PG&E bill was over $400 - what to do??

[Allan Pilapil]

Hey BP,

I’m 3 months into renting out my first property. I rent out by the rooms and charge a flat monthly fee while I take care of utilities. The PG&E bill has been over $400 and PG&E said its mainly the heater.

Is it legal to put a lock box on the thermostat? Or are there any alternatives to making sure the bill stays low? The tenants are not paying utilities so they have no incentive to watch their usage- I will be changing that after the 6 month lease is over - but in the meantime, what can I do??

Thanks guys!!