Chelco Bill: WOW!

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.

Thanks everyone - some of those are pretty impressive! And these totals INCLUDE the $24 Chelco monthly co-op membership fee right? And also, are all of these from totally electric homes? Does anyone have gas that reported in? THANKS for the help.

I am trying to get an idea as to how much the solar has been doing for us. So far so good.

Dune - back home we had our pool pump not only on a timer, but also we had a solar panel running the pump. It worked fine unless there was a long stretch of heavy clouds.

Thanks again
G

Thanks everyone - some of those are pretty impressive! And these totals INCLUDE the $24 Chelco monthly co-op membership fee right? And also, are all of these from totally electric homes? Does anyone have gas that reported in? THANKS for the help.

I am trying to get an idea as to how much the solar has been doing for us. So far so good.

Dune - back home we had our pool pump not only on a timer, but also we had a solar panel running the pump. It worked fine unless there was a long stretch of heavy clouds.

Thanks again
G

I'm entirely electric (approx. 1850sf) including pool pumps & heaters.

The pool pumps are on a timer... times adjusted based on enviro factors, temps, humidity, rainfall, pollens, etc.

My house is built under a heavy tree canopy... so I would think solar isn't really an option?

I'm entirely electric (approx. 1850sf) including pool pumps & heaters.

The pool pumps are on a timer... times adjusted based on enviro factors, temps, humidity, rainfall, pollens, etc.

My house is built under a heavy tree canopy... so I would think solar isn't really an option?

You are wise to have the timer. That's a huge savings right there. Yeah, solar has to have wots of sun! But I bet the shade helps keep you nice and cool in the house.

You are right, the pool brings lots of pleasure! I miss mine, but am hoping to swim lots in gulf.

G

All electric, but we have started shutting off the hot water heater during the day. The kid turns it back on about 4:00 (he only forgot once - the resulting cold shower made an impression on him). Good time of year, not real hot, not real cold, $150.00 this month.

And since our A/C was out for a week, this month's shouldn't be bad either.

You are wise to have the timer. That's a huge savings right there. Yeah, solar has to have wots of sun! But I bet the shade helps keep you nice and cool in the house.

You are right, the pool brings lots of pleasure! I miss mine, but am hoping to swim lots in gulf.

G

I will not have another pool.;-)

All electric, but we have started shutting off the hot water heater during the day. The kid turns it back on about 4:00 (he only forgot once - the resulting cold shower made an impression on him). Good time of year, not real hot, not real cold, $150.00 this month.

And since our A/C was out for a week, this month's shouldn't be bad either.

SN would you venture a guess how much you're saving by turning off the HWH each day?
I turn it off when I go out of town but am unable to quantify the savings.

I'm sure turning it off when not needed or when no one is home saves $$ over time. I love our on demand water heater. Have never run out of hot water either.

G

More info on hwh

Tips for saving with a tank heater

1. Turn down the thermostat. When it's set on scalding hot you have to mix in cold water in your shower to lower the temperature, and why make your heater boil the water if you don't need it that hot? And remember that 130?F water is hot enough to scald you. Note though that many people prefer to set their tanks to 123?F or higher to prevent Legionnaires Disease. (Though I personally think the best way to avoid LD is to just get an instant tankless system, so you don't have festering water sitting around in a tank.).
2. Use a timer on older electric heaters. A $40 timer can automatically turn off an electric heater when you go to work, then back on right before you come home, off after you go to bed, and on again right before you get up. These don't save as much money as you'd expect, though. That's because a typical electric water heater only runs about three hours a day anyway, and modern energy-efficient water heaters run only 1.3 hours or so. Standby losses (how much heat the tank loses by just sitting there) aren't that great, especially for modern heaters. (In fact, if your heater was made after 1998, it's possibly not worth using a timer at all.) And even with a timer you'll still have standby losses as soon as you leave for work and after the tank shuts off for the night. A timer for an old (pre-1998) heater will save about 25kWh/mo. for a family of two using 40 gallons a day with the heater off four to six hours a day, but only 14kWh/mo. for a family of four using 80 gallons a day. [SIZE=-2]([/SIZE][SIZE=-2]Florida Extension Service[/SIZE][SIZE=-2])[/SIZE] (See our separate page on how to install a water heater timer.)
3. Wrap your heater in a special tank blanket. Home improvement stores sell a special water heater blanket that you can put around your heater to help insulate it. This reduces energy use by 10-15% -- for a family of two, that's about 21kWh/mo., or $20/yr. at 8?/kWh. The savings are only slightly less for a family of four. [SIZE=-2]([/SIZE][SIZE=-2]Florida Extension Service[/SIZE][SIZE=-2])[/SIZE]
4. Fix leaky faucets. Every 30 drops per minute from a hot water faucet costs you around 18kWh/mo. with an electric water heater, according to this article.
5. Insulate the room where the heater is. If it's in a garage and it's cold outside, keep the garage door closed!
6. Take advantage of utility promotions. Some utility companies will install a special water heater which heats primarily at night for a lower kWh rate.
7. Install a drain recovery system. A drain recovery system uses the heat from the water flowing down the drain to preheat water entering the heater. A system like the one by GFX saves $180 to $340 a year when used with an electric water heater (according to the manufacturer), and prices start at $334. These are only really suitable for homes with basements or bathrooms on the second floor, because access to a vertical drainpipe is needed.
8. Turn it off when you're out of town. For electric heaters without a switch, you can turn it off at the breaker box. For gas heaters, follow the instructions printed on the heater. (Usually you can just turn the thermostat, NOT the gas knob, to OFF -- unless you feel you're competent to re-light the heater when you return.)

SN would you venture a guess how much you're saving by turning off the HWH each day?
I turn it off when I go out of town but am unable to quantify the savings.

I am not sure yet; we only started doing it after the hellaciously high bill month before last. It could be that we started doing it at the same time our other usage dropped due to the change in seasons.

I like the other tips that Gidget posted. I do not know what our thermostat is set at, but one can take a shower in our master bathroom with the knob all the way in the hot position and not have to turn it down (especially in the winter when said bathroom is cold). It also takes roughly five minutes for the hot water to make it from the HWH to my shower, but that's another issue.

I will not have another pool.;-)

We said same when we moved here. Too much hassle. Nice, but hassle and expense.

What are yall's bills like in the summertime when it is hot?

I will not have another pool.;-)

When I moved I vowed I would never have another pool! Here, I bought in a neighborhood with a pool--I get to enjoy, but not have the responsibility/expense for taking care of it. The fees I pay for both the pool and yard work are well worth it...and hardly anyone uses the pool at the times I like to, so it's perfect.

Actually, though the electricity cost of my pool before was minor compared to all the other costs and aggravation.

When I moved I vowed I would never have another pool! Here, I bought in a neighborhood with a pool--I get to enjoy, but not have the responsibility/expense for taking care of it. The fees I pay for both the pool and yard work are well worth it...and hardly anyone uses the pool at the times I like to, so it's perfect.

Actually, though the electricity cost of my pool before was minor compared to all the other costs and aggravation.

Perfect. Community pools are wonderful. You are right the other costs certainly add up. Not to mention getting out the vacuum - again....

$101.40

We work at home-most of the time.

Two story house

No pool

2000+ sq ft

The water heater uses a lot more than people realize. I started shutting mine and my mom's off when we didn't need it and the bill on both houses went down $50! It only takes 20 min or so to heat enough for bath or whatever so I just keep em off. Our bills are still too high. $150 for 900 sq ft!! Chelco is a rip off. So much for co-op! Or maybe I just don't understand?

The water heater uses a lot more than people realize. I started shutting mine and my mom's off when we didn't need it and the bill on both houses went down $50! It only takes 20 min or so to heat enough for bath or whatever so I just keep em off. Our bills are still too high. $150 for 900 sq ft!! Chelco is a rip off. So much for co-op! Or maybe I just don't understand?

Thanks! That's the first time I've seen a WH bill segregated & quantified.
However, your bill is quite high for the sq.ftg. How old is your home... is it stick built or mobile? You may need some additional insulation in the structure & check those door/window seals!

Thanks! That's the first time I've seen a WH bill segregated & quantified.
However, your bill is quite high for the sq.ftg. How old is your home... is it stick built or mobile? You may need some additional insulation in the structure & check those door/window seals!

My home is a mobile that is quite old. My mom is beside me and hers is also old and mobile. Fortunately (I hope anyway) I am selling this place and am just trying to find something to rent for now. Actually that is MUCH easier said than done! Finding a house is becoming a nightmare!

chelco Bill

The water heater uses a lot more than people realize. I started shutting mine and my mom's off when we didn't need it and the bill on both houses went down $50! It only takes 20 min or so to heat enough for bath or whatever so I just keep em off. Our bills are still too high. $150 for 900 sq ft!! Chelco is a rip off. So much for co-op! Or maybe I just don't understand?

My bill was $99.00 for about 900 sq.ft. That is alot considering the a/c was mostly on only at night since the weather was so nice when I moved in and the windows were open most of the day. I do keep it pretty cold when I sleep, but still. I forgot about the hot water heater and it does eat up a lot of energy. I'm going to start doing that because with the summer heat I cannot imagine what the bill will be like next month. I thought I was doing good and it would be really low but I guess that is not the case around here. I could not imagine a $400 bill no matter the house. Thanks everyone.

Now that AC's have kicked in full time how's it going? What temps do you usually keep your homes? Do you keep it different between day and night?

Stay cool

I'm scared to get mine. About 1,600sqft cooled by a dinosaur.

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82 upstairs unit (except when daughter sneaks it down)
81 downstairs (except when we're eating dinner or right before bed - then we just kick it down one so it will run and then it is programed to go back up. We sleep with ceiling and floor fans running. It works well, especially with the new units that are more efficient.





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Those fans REALLY make a difference don't they!! I LOVE your "COOL" Rita!

I'm scared to get mine. About 1,600sqft cooled by a dinosaur.

Might not be that bad. I haven't heard of anyone's going through the roof yet!

Now that AC's have kicked in full time how's it going? What temps do you usually keep your homes? Do you keep it different between day and night?

Stay cool

Actually my a/c is not keeping up with the heat! I had to switch to 3 window units a couple of years ago and they used less electric than my central unit. But so far this summer it has been sooo hot that in the afternoon it is hot in here! My moms place has central and its doing ok but we haven't gotten a bill thats showing the a/c usage yet. I'm sure it will show on the new one but usually it never goes over $200. I am moving into a new house with central a/c and I bet it will be high. But since I'm moving mom in with us I will only have one electric bill instead of two so it still should be less than what I pay now. I'm excited to be moving and I am going to be starting a new business!

Remember with a traditional a/c unit there are extremes that will make it completely useless. In the winter there is a certain temp that will make the heat pump useless and during the summer it can actually get hot enough that the unit cannot cool.

Thus far we have not had any ridiculous power bills. In fact the last one I got had a credit of $14.00 I somehow managed to pay it twice. We like it cold at night, but when we are both out during the day it's at 80. Luckily we live under some shade so it's not too bad.