AHN Staff
Chicago, IL (AHN) - The economic crisis has definitely changed the spending habits of the ordinary American. From reducing spending to keeping a careful tab on household expenses, wage earners who are worried their jobs may next be on the line are finding more ways to cut their expenses.
Chicago residents, for instance, are now double checking their gas bills after consumers noticed excessive bills based on estimates, not actual meter readings. The Illinois Administrative Code requires gas companies to physically read meters at least every two months.
But some gas firms claim the lack of access to some houses whose meters are inside their units and the owners are not home when the meter reader came prevent the company from complying with the regulation, causing the utility firms to bill customers based on estimates.
It no longer is a problem for clients of Peoples Gas because 95 percent of the homes have automated meters, which sends electronic signal to a gas company employee even if he is outside the unit. People Gas and another utility firm, Nicor, recently allowed its clients to call in their meter readings or enter it through the company's website.
Aside from ensuring that what they pay utility companies are the correct amount, other strategies American families plan to adopt, according to a USA Today survey are a cut in holiday travel, less eating out and going to movies and doing the household chores themselves instead of hiring a housekeeper or a gardener.
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