I loved wandering around in Spags as a kid. Those tight aisles were fun. Whole place had a cool vibe. My dad always let me go get a Matchbox or Hot Wheels car from the big bin if we went into the main store.

> we told her to check with her neighbors and the complex management

Excellent advice, was going to suggest the same. This will give her the best insight as to if it's normal or out of whack.

So the bill may be "correct", insofar as the meter reading was accurate (let's assume it was), but there may be other things happening here. If it were me, I'd want to ensure that the trend over time is consistent--so, did the apartment in the winter months last year and the year prior have similar bills? If it did, then we know that nothing is suddenly awry here and it may be a matter of drafts, leaks, windows, doors, etc. needing some sealing/insulation attention.

If the $400 just doesn't line up though, you should put on the detective hat and start investigating and eliminating possibilities. Is a neighbor using her electricity (either intentionally or not--like recent electrical work and a circuit was wired wrong and is pulling from her apt's meter but feeding another apt.)?

Is something else jacking the usage up? Space heater? Significantly higher usage of an appliance like the oven or dryer? The fridge old and constantly running?

Worcester county not Worcester, but my first house in 2012 was 875sqft and had electric heat and our NG bills were consistently $450-600 in the winter. Our mortgage was $575…

Yes! Definitely a really great place. I go in here a few times a summer and they’re always super helpful as I stumble around the neat and sausage trying to figure out to buy. I was sad when Crown Bakery closed but I’m glad this place is what moved in.

Yes, That makes sense about the AC and I think you might be right about the windows and insulation. This apartment complex is not luxury apartments but pretty nice but who knows maybe corners were cut some where.

Yeah, but $ 400 seems more than just a little high.

Yeah that's what we told her but she called the utility company and they said the bill is correct. She's in an apartment complex and all of the units are the same, we told her to check with her neighbors and the complex management.

I believe he likes to be called Electric William.

That is a little high, but if the insulation or windows aren't great it wouldn't surprise me. Did she winterize? Plastic on the windows may work wonders.

Electric heat often costs more than AC. In the winter the heater has to raise the temp by 30+ degrees, but the AC only has to drop it by 10-15 for most of the summer.

No she is in Hampden county but thanks for the links.

One of the few things I miss about Central Mass is all the international grocery stores.

Ed Hyder’s and Bahnan’s are fantastic. Ed Hyder’s is higher end. Bahnan’s is very authentic and has great prices. Golemo’s is also great.

I second that, they sell some amazing ready to eat curries and their samosas are prepared daily. So if someone doesn't know, it's inside the Indian market on Rt. 9 backside of Christmas tree shop.

With unnecessarily high prices

Interesting, I wonder about this sometimes. Where in the south did you move, if you don’t mind me asking?

Electric heat is really expensive. My house is all radiator heat/gas except my bedroom, which ran on electric heat before I installed mini splits. I kept it at 55 and my electric bill still skyrocketed in the winter. I can’t imagine with the rate hikes now what folks with electric heat are going to pay.

Enrolling in the Mass Power Choice electric option someone mentions here will help a little. If she’s not already turning it down when she leaves and sleeps, she should start doing that. Electric heat sucks, unfortunately

Energy costs are the only thing I am really getting a head on since I moved down south…. Everything else “balances out” cost wise because I get paid less.

I get the 20 year olds on their phones thing, that's everywhere now. Went through a drive through, paid at one window and pulled up to the next and this young girl is having an animated conversation with her back to me. She turned and saw me and gestured to wait a minute and continued to talk so I hit the horn. She turns around and does an eye roll and shoves my order through the window without putting the phone down or even looking at me. My order was wrong but of course I wasn't at the window so I parked and went inside and asked to speak to the manager who personally fixed my order. I don't know what happened to window girl but probably nothing.

Maker to Main is a grocery store with only local products.

Does she live in Worcester proper? If so she should make sure she is enrolled in the cheaper city brokered electric rates, it’s supposed to be automatic. https://www.masspowerchoice.com/worcester

If she is in one of the surrounding towns, she should shop around for a the cheapest electricity provider: https://energyswitchma.gov

In both cases National Grid is still delivering and billing the power, this just effects the supplier.

Bahnan’s is classic for anything Mediterranean. My family is Greek and we usually get our Easter lambs from there. Kalamos is newer but better focused on imported Greek goods, we go there for snacks, Nescafé, etc. They’re legit and don’t get enough attention, plus the owners are really nice.

The hot dogs were good especially on a chilly grey day. I wonder why that is. I make them at home the same way and no where as good.

That seems exceptionally high for a small apartment kept at 68.

How long has she lived there? Can she check with the utility for the history of the KWh used monthly for the past couple years? My national grid bill shows the past 12 months I believe.

NatGrid almost doubled what they charged for kWh. My bill doubled from 70 to 140 in my small 1br. Merry f'n Christmas, right?

Always liked the fried dough truck outside. Best place ever to get Star Wars toys at a good price.