Being blamed for gas going up $27

Hi all.

I just moved in with a former landlord of mine. I rent one bedroom out of a 5 bedroom house. I have a bathroom in the hall but it’s shared with the house basically because it’s the only bathroom downstairs.

Long story short,

The gas bill came high. I just moved in a month and a half ago, and I take 2 showers a day. First morning shower for 10 minutes then night shower for 15-20 minutes. I’m being accused of taking “hour long showers” at night and raising the gas bill up by $27.

My landlord is my friend as well. She wanted me to pay $27 because I raised her gas.

Winter is starting. She swears she never turns the heater on. She says she leaves it on auto. I told her I know the heat has been on because we would be freezing if not. She says she leaves it on auto and that her bill was consistent until I came and now it’s high. I said well yes because I’m another person and she said it’s too high because of my showers and because I wash my clothes with hot water in the laundry.

I work in healthcare. She does too. I wash my scrubs with hot water because first of all DISGUSTING and second of all I literally have to. And now she wants me to pay for the gas bill difference because I want to do laundry with hot water ? Hell no.

I come home to this contract thing. Not sure what’s okay or not, I’m autistic and have zero common sense so some guidance would be good here .