Just Got Our Power Bill For August

[TNJed]

But I keep it on 70 unless I'm getting dressed then I drop it to 68.

68!!!???

Holy Test-icicles Batman!

 

[Bob]

August was $348 with a 5 ton heatpump churning out 74 degrees of Estroven-helping coolness. We are ready to bypass Sept./Oct. and go straight to November when the windows roll open!

 

[LightWorker]

August was $348 with a 5 ton heatpump churning out 74 degrees of Estroven-helping coolness. We are ready to bypass Sept./Oct. and go straight to November when the windows roll open!

November sounds good to me. Thank goodness we have fans at night.

 

[Smiling JOe]

I also use ceiling fans when I am in a room. It is amazing how different it feels. July was my highest powerbill at $147 and Aug was right there with last year's at $135. That is for a 3bd/3ba house, 1400sf. I could reduce the hot water heater and save a whole bunch of money, but I like to take really hot showers. I use low wattage bulbs in my ceiling fixtures and lamps, rarely burn flood lights, use only cold water for washing clothes, run dishwasher and laundry only at night when power demand decreases, etc. It is the little things which add up.

 

[LightWorker]

I also use ceiling fans when I am in a room. It is amazing how different it feels. July was my highest powerbill at $147 and Aug was right there with last year's at $135. That is for a 3bd/3ba house, 1400sf. I could reduce the hot water heater and save a whole bunch of money, but I like to take really hot showers. I use low wattage bulbs in my ceiling fixtures and lamps, rarely burn flood lights, use only cold water for washing clothes, run dishwasher and laundry only at night when power demand decreases, etc. It is the little things which add up.

I made some changes this year too. I leave the temp on 79 and I get cold in most places now.

 

[Miss Kitty]

Unfortunately, I live in a house built in 1946 and despite all extra measures to insulate this seive, it still blows. Add to that the ridiculous amount of $$ we are charged for a kilowatt (and I will pay it if it means NO MORE COAL PLANTS!) and there is the recipe for disaster. But, that said...we do like it cool.

Question for Chelco billees...can someone tell me about the price increase? That bill has been outrageous as well...and I have NO control over what the renters do.

 

[beachmouse]

$160 in August-AC set to 74, running sprinklers regularly. For all our current home's flaws, it was built with a ton of insulation. When we lived down by the beach, we were paying $225+ for a two bedroom concrete block townhouse that was far smaller than our current home.

 

[InletBchDweller]

That just never made sense to me. Covers can be more appreciated in the winter time. If you guys want to complain about power bills, ditch the covers and turn the therms up. 81 degrees feels like a cooler when you come in from 100 degree temps. Your internal body temp is 98, so do some simply math, avoid drinking lots of alcohol and eat low cal cooler foods in the summer. It ain't rocket science. ;-)

This all makes sense but I just like it cold at night. Somehing comforting abouy being cacooned in a nice comforter. A sheet just does not do it for me...Plus you can snuggle if you are cold..
I can adjust though, While in the Bahamas I do fine b/c power to an island, now that is expensive!!!!

I'm so looking forward to fall --- having the windows open.

Even at work. I miss hearing birds, and other critters. Instead I just hear the rumble of the AC.:roll:

I llove opening my windows...and I can not wait.

 

[Cheering472]

You are about 10 degrees too cold. Wear less clothes around the house and put that therm no lower than 81 at night, use summer bedspread and sleep naked. In the day time when you are away, bump it up to 83 to keep the dogs cool. You are not running a meat locker.

That's the way to do it. I have a 60 year old medium size cape cod house (4 BR 1400-1500 sq ft ) and my bill was under $80 last month. I just want to be comfortable not cool.

 

[seaside2]

Ok. 4400 square feet, pool with pump 24/7, hot tub with pump 24/7, 10 tons of high efficiency A/C units, two hormone crazed women, 65 at night (Go easy on me here). $471 last month, highest ever.

These bills have been growing because of the price of gas. oil and coal have been increasing like crazy for the past couple years. (check out gasoline prices).

If you want to benchmark it, look at kW-Hrs per day, or better yet MMBTU/Day and track the consunption part. You can manage consumption. Not much you can do about the rates except go to alternative fuels like wood, etc.

Don't flame me, but the only real answer to this whole damn mess is nuclear. Had we spent on developing safe, environmentally friendly nuclear power what we spent on that stupid, no positive result space program, oil would be a nickel a gallon and the middle east folks would be still living in tents, not in air conditioned splendor on our $. (Freaking indoor 365 day/year snow slope in Dubai!!! Give me a break!!). and with hydrogen fueled cars, etc, global warming is history.

Rant over (for now).