Many ECU students living in off-campus houses were shocked when they opened their February utility bills, which were substantially higher than they had expected.
The bills came from the Greenville Utilities Commission, which is responsible for providing the City of Greenville and 75% of Pitt County residents with electric, water, sewer and natural gas services. Students at East Carolina University started to raise concerns when they noticed their February utility bill was noticeably higher than their previous month’s bill. Many students live in homes in a neighborhood located north of campus called “The Grid.”
Many students who have rented the same homes for the past two years said they noticed their gas usage nearly doubled in February when compared to February 2024. Water, electric and sewer usage all remained relatively the same. They knew this because Greenville Utilities Commission provides customers with an assortment of data that includes all previous billing statements and usage.
Jordan Reid, an ECU student, provided a summary of her utility statements since moving in August 2023 to her Fifth Street house. In February 2025, her gas usage had showed a 72% increase when compared to February 2024. While her home includes six residents, each had to pay about $30 more that month. A nearby ECU student, Hailey Wilkes, said she found herself paying about $50 more that month, as her utility bill is shared among fewer roommates.
As the weather differs, students understand that each month’s bill will fluctuate, and no billing statement will be the exact same as another. Yet, many students say none have been as dramatic as their February 2025 charge. In the winter, gas usage is always greater than other months due to increased use of heating systems.
Concerned about the increase, Reid asked GUC to ensure her home was billed correctly. A GUC customer service representative told her that the bill was correct, “and gas was working overtime everywhere because of the recent snow.” On Jan. 22, Greenville got 2.7 inches of snow, according to WITN News. This was the only snow during the February billing period.
GUC Communications Manager Steve Hawley said students’ bills went up because of the colder temperatures. The average temperature for this year’s February billing statement was 10 degrees colder than last year’s, Hawley said, adding, “the colder it is outside, the harder heating systems have to work.”
According to the minutes of the Jan. 16 GUC Board of Commissioners meeting, commissioners voted to extend GUC’s gas supply contract and re-calculate the rates. Hawley confirms that “rates will not go up because of this contract,” which was “extended for another 6 years.”
