Chelco Bill: WOW!

Prices are higher because of demand - the price of oil is not going to go down when the country is racked with cold spells.

Insulate the hell out of your house and it really pays off - Canoehead added insulation this summer and is saving money each month because she does the average bill too.

Around 1450 sf in an almost 100 yr old frame house with new windows and added insulation =$185. This is even lower than this time last year. The upgrades have really helped. My bill has been running anywhere from $50-15 lower every month since the remodel. I have Gulf Power and the only thing I have ever complained about was when they guesstamated my bill close to this time last year. Yeah, they just decided to bill me what my bill had ran the year prior and not read the meter. It will tell you on your bill if it is an "estimated" bill. The actual reading came in about $120 less than they billed me. So always look at your bill, closely.

DaGood, I was in the same boat as my first winter bill was the same amount when I moved in my house. Me and my pup, Sarge, lived under an electric blanket the rest of the winter, so I know the pain. I got a gas fireplace installed in my living room and that helped. There are also programs in the county that you might qualify for if you are a homeowner where weatherproofing is concerned. If you are not eligible for a grant, plastic sheeting and some foam stripping around windows will help a little as well as draft catchers around doors and shutting off any rooms you don't use all the time. You probably already know all this, I just wanted to share a few ideas that have worked for me in the past.

My house is about 1800 sf and my bill is $237. The month before it was $153!

Our house is about 1900sf. This month was $190. Last month $135. We used 1500 KWH this month, 1000KWH last month, and 850 KWH this month last year. We definitely need to be more aware of what we are doing, but it has been really cold this winter. Oh well.

Mine was $400, and 3000+ sq ft. I have a wood burning fireplace insert, and a gas stove. I've done many improvements through the years, including new roof with attic and insulation, double paned windows, etc. it's still too high! I"m still looking into wind generator and solar panels!

There was an insert in a previous bill to donate to a benevolent fund. I think it's a great thing, the Salvation Army is handling it though, and I don't thnk they are located in Walton County. So, those that need assistance have to drive to a neighboring county to get it. I wish they had chosen a local charity.

Be careful with unvented gas heat! Make sure there is some kind of venting available.

OMG you guys - WOW! I am HOPING our 11inch ICF walls, on demand water heater, our blown attic and Energy Star home w/solar will prove to be worth it. Too bad we are not in it this winter as a TRUE test. I really wonder what our bill would be. I heated w/wood back home and never had a bill that amounted to much due to that.

I heard that a minimum bill at Chelco is $24 - just for being a member - is that correct?

Stay warm SoWallers!!!

G

John R is right, insulating your water heater and intsalling a timer help a lot.

I would add caulking drafty windows (or just jam towels or something in the sill), weather stripping on doors, closing off unused spaces and ducts to them, and use your window treatments wisely: open shades/curtains on sunny windows on sunny days for passive heat gain; keep shades closed as much as possible when it's dark or in an unused room, etc.

If you can afford it, get new windows and/or insulated window treatments. Ours have made a huge difference both summer and winter.

Safer than electric blankets: rice socks. Fill a clean tube sock with 4 cups cheap rice and tie up securely. Heat in microwave for 3-5 minutes, and use as many as needed to warm your toes in bed. Pile on enough blankets, they will still be a little warm next morning. This is great for applying heat to muscle cramps and such also, and they can be chilled in the freezer for cold applications.

Eat warm, cooked foods, with some spice; drink hot tea; stay away from cold salads and iced drinks or desserts. Some folks even put cayenne pepper in their shoes or socks for a boost....

Rolled up towels in window sills......yep! In a 90 year house that has settled quite a bit, I can attest that this works. I was just getting ready to replace my windows, too! All of my doors swelled from the rains, then shrank way more than original so I have draft dodgers for those, too! Keep the thermostat at 66, which is cozy (efficient unit installed, but would love to go solar) and I could never replace Cowboy with rice to keep my feet warm.....he's the best! 2,400 sq ft and my bill was a little over $100. I might switch the beach cottage to gas, too. Y'all stay warm and cozy~~~~~~~

Another idea -- I have a good friend who's done this -- is to install a solar thermal water heater. They're kinda expensive, so the payback is a few years, but it reduces your water heating costs to almost nothing. No moving parts (or very few). I hope to afford one someday. On-demand water heaters are a less expensive option and they're way more available and easy to have installed and repaired than they were when we tried out our first (1980s).

You can also make your own solar thermal water heater, if you have a little handyman knowhow or can pay a couple of tradesmen to help you out. Something as simple as a length of black hose coiled on the roof as a solar preheater helps a lot. To see a really simple version of this (for an outdoor solar shower application), go to www.pathtofreedom.com. Well they've re-arranged their website and I can't find the entry where they describe it, but I did find this image, hope it shows up right:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhGeUkaMbMQ"]YouTube- Urban Homestead - Solar Outdoor Shower[/ame]

Here's a video with more info about Path to Freedom, about how they use less energy.

You can also make your own solar thermal water heater, if you have a little handyman knowhow or can pay a couple of tradesmen to help you out. Something as simple as a length of black hose coiled on the roof as a solar preheater helps a lot. To see a really simple version of this (for an outdoor solar shower application), go to www.pathtofreedom.com. Well they've re-arranged their website and I can't find the entry where they describe it, but I did find this image, hope it shows up right:

Ha - no joking! We had one back home - for most of the months of the year we had all the hot water we wanted via black pipe and the sun. Going to rig something here too. Only ours looked and will look a lot less primitive than the one pictured above (although this certainly has its charm) I'll see if I can find a pic of our old setup. My dh is very handy dandy.

G

Gas is the way to, if you can get it.Wrap the hot watwer heater, as that will help. Insulation, good windows help too. Mine was $96 for a carriage house, and the heat is turned way down, when at work, Miss my boiler system form previous house, which was gas also.

$185 here, which is pretty typical for winter for us.

Mine was $222 for 1600 sq ft. house and I haven't there since Nov. Used 1822 kwh. Maybe I have squatters?????

Mine was $222 for 1600 sq ft. house and I haven't there since Nov. Used 1822 kwh. Maybe I have squatters?????

Aack! You may want to check - ours was $290.00!

Mine was $222 for 1600 sq ft. house and I haven't there since Nov. Used 1822 kwh. Maybe I have squatters?????

It's been grayt! We'll clean when we leave.

wow! I thought the electric was bad in New Orleans. I'm getting ready to move there in April. I'll be in a 3 bdrm. newly renovated house. I hope it is insulated well. Of course the winter was much worse than normal everywhere so I guess everyone is suffering. I guess I'll find out soon!!

I'd be curious how the bills are looking around here this time of year. Anyone care to share?

Thanks
G

just opened mine the other day for last month, mine is $160.

Update on Bills

I'd be curious how the bills are looking around here this time of year. Anyone care to share?

Thanks
G

I just pulled this from our chelco acct online. I can't seem to format it for the forum though....I don't trust CHELCO and can't understand why our usage supposedly fluxuates so much. We just started the A/C a few weeks ago and have kept 72 at night, 78 during the day when we are not home. We were out of town for a week in April and shut the hot water, a/c, & pulled plugs on tvs, etc...that week. Really made a difference! $97 dollars will cover April for us!

BILL DAYS OF CURRENT ADJUST-
DATE SERVICE CHARGES MENTS
7-May-10 31 $96.88 $0.00
8-Apr-10 28 $168.18 $0.00
11-Mar-10 31 $317.01 ($9.82)
4-Feb-10 31 $438.71 $0.00
7-Jan-10 30 $168.81 $0.00
9-Dec-09 31 $119.66 $0.00
5-Nov-09 30 $193.34 $0.00

METER READING DATE DAYS IN BILLING CYCLE KWH USAGE
25-Apr-2010 31 721
25-Mar-2010 28 1431
25-Feb-2010 31 2766
25-Jan-2010 31 3768
25-Dec-2009 30 1281
25-Nov-2009 31 806
25-Oct-2009 30 1476
25-Sep-2009 31 2049
25-Aug-2009 28 2088
28-Jul-2009 29 2405
29-Jun-2009 31 2695
29-May-2009 30 1922
29-Apr-2009 33 1312

1800 SQ Ft. and last month was 112$

Just paid mine today for last month -- my lowest to date -- a whopping $83. The lady in front of me said hers was down to $400 instead of the usual $500.

86 glorious dollars here!

$76 this month;
$73 last month
$1800 sq ft

$76 this month;
$73 last month
$1800 sq ft

Way to Go!!
You don't have a pool do you?

Mine was $168 this month (typical annual low) ... I figure my pool circulation pump running a min. of $100/month average.
In some ways... a pool is like a child or pet... if you've got it you've gotta take care of it. It can also be capable of providing untold pleasure.