Complaint Review: Xcel Energy - Eau Claire Wisconsin

On September 2017 I received my monthly bill from August 2017 something did not look right, because we had a hot summer this year and my ac had been on most of the time. My bill amount due was under $10.00 and i knew that wasn't correct so i made a call on the 5 of September and asked xcel energy whats going on with my bill? They said it may be the meter. I then asked when will they come out and check it? They said 2 to 3 weeks. I thought it seemed a little long, but i knew they were not going to come and fix the next day. So i left it at that. The month of September went bye and then came October bill which was again under $10.00. I knew from looking at this bill, xcel did not come out to check or fix my meter. I then called again and spoke to an agent, they said it takes a month for tech to go out and check.  So in the back of my head I'm thinking, they are in no rush and when i finally do get my bill it's going to be extremely high. So I started making $50.00 payment. October came and went no signs of tech in my backyard. November came and the bill again was under $10.00. I made my November payment of $50.00 and then called xcel again spoke to another agent about my broken meter. By this time i was really upset and someone finally came out to fix. I then received another bill over $400.00! I was shoked,pissed upset! So i made another phone call, this time i asked for the agents name and employee she gave it to me. I had explained to her the issue with my broken meter sinc September and how my bill ran up that high?

She said they went back 6 months of billing?!?! I said 6 months?!?! But my meter had only been broken since Sept. Prior to that my average was normal from last years. She went on and on about the same thing. And i told her my bill would had never been this high if someone from xcel would had come the month i called and reported! She couldn't understand why i was so upset. So she trasformed me over to someone else? I then had to explain everthing to this new person. And she said there was nothing she could do about my bill. They were more upset because i had called and was bothering them about my broken meter that had gone without service and my bill. The second person was the most hateful person. When i asked for her name and employee number she refused to give to me? Over and over she was saying i don't know what you want me to do about it. I told her i wanted them to take some responsibility for my almost $400.00 bill. She said i could make monthly payments for 6 months. I said. no way! I for years pay my bills on time and in full. I never let them spill over for next month. At this time i was trying so hard not to go off on her. I truly wish they had a recorder to play back the way she was speaking to me.

I knew some how i was going to have to pay this large amount soon and worried because thanksgiving is coming up and then christmas. I told her how can you go back 6 months to June 2017 if my meter was not broken. I know this because i save all my bills and looking and comparing last years June, July and August my bills were the same from 2016. But she said it wasn't working and they have to go back 6 months. I was so upset. I then told her i would call my local news stations and local newspaper to report them. She then said are you threatening me? I said that is not a threat. I then asked her how would she feel if this happen to her mother? She would not answer me. I then told her i was going to let the public know what was going on and i had proof from all my last years bills and this years bills. This lady after over an hour she then said i am going to give you a $50.00 credit to your next bill. Wow after all that for the months i would call and ask when they were going to come and fix my meter? She hung up on me. No apoligy no sorry about what happen to you. Just silence.

I still don't understand how xcel can say my meter had been broken sinc June of this year when clearly my June 2017 bill was the same as June 2016 also my July 2016 same as July 2017? Sept 2017 bill was different from last years bill. So after all that, I don't know what's worse? The extreme bill i have to pay before the holidays or the customer service i received? And after all that, from e telling her i would go to my local news station, she said i would get a $50.00 credit on Jan 2018 bill.

Someone should had came to fix my meter the month i called which was Sept 2017. But waited Nov 2017 to then get billed $400.00 for 6 months. Even though i made monthly payments of $50.00 on Sept,Oct,Nov. I did not even know the amount each of those months, but i knew if i did not pay at least $50.00, it would had been worst. I did my part on calling Sept,Oct, and Nov to report my meter. Xcel Energy should take some responsibility for this.