If your association pays for common heating gas or electric, your bills will show a large increase during the winter months. Enroll in the budget payment plan through Peoples Gas or ComEd and your monthly utility expense will be the same regardless of the month.
This option helps to even out cash flow throughout the year and makes financial data more consistent. Peoples Gas usually offers the budget payment option on its invoices. Just pay the budget amount as indicated instead of the total due, and they will automatically enroll you in the budget plan.
Monthly budget payments may be adjusted during the year to account for changes in usage or utility costs.