We did call them, and they said it was correct.

It was an actual reading, not an estimate--they do them that way every other month here, and December's was an estimate, this one an actual. However, since they may have underestimated in December, they have to make up for it.

We have spoken to them about payments--they were very cooperative.

We have been quite careless with the lights and stuff lately--I must be more vigilant to turn everything off!! Plus with Christmas lights and everything last month, and the incredible cold--it all just happened at the same time, unfortunately.

Denyce--
thanks for the idea. We do have those crappy little baseboard heaters--I hate them. Just adding a tiny space heater in the living room warms it up considerably. In our apartment, we had a gas fireplace, and it warmed everything, including the bedrooms--I miss my fireplace!!
This is a new house too, and we are figuring out everything as we go along ( a new house is NOT all it's cracked up to be)--one thing, is I'm making a list of everything I DONT want in a future house--I'm adding electric baseboard heaters to the list!!!!