ST. CLAIR, Mo. – A brother and sister said last month's electricity bill was more than twice the month before, even though no one lives in the house.
So, they turned to 5 On Your Side for help.
The Johnmeyers are upset by their electric bill. They got a new thermostat last November so they know the temperature has been only 58 degrees.
Renovating the home helps Chad Johnmeyer cope with the passing of his mom and dad.
“It’s time to let it go and let somebody else build memories,” he said.
He said no one has lived in the St. Clair home for a year.
“There’s no washer and dryer downstairs. There’s nobody taking showers. The hot water heater is not running. There’s no TV,” he said.
So when he and sister Kay Johnmeyer-Bott saw their Ameren electric bill jump from about $119 in December to about $315 in January, they were in shock so they called Ameren.
“They told me it was just due to the cold weather,” Johnmeyer-Bott said.
But the brother and sister said they don’t believe that response.
A representative from Ameren did check this meter and found nothing wrong according to the Johnmeyers.
Ameren confirms it checked the meter on the house and there was nothing wrong with it. It also said colder temperatures resulted in increased bills.
Ameren said customers who are concerned about their bills can set up budget billing, which gives them a flat rate every month. You're also encouraged to set up an online account, where you can track your usage every day.
