Here in Connecticut the utility companies are never shy about requesting rate increases. This year the United Illuminating Company that provides us with electricity decided they needed a 50% increase. Somehow the regulatory committee that oversees this electric monopoly agreed that whatever hogwash they were fed sounded good enough to justify the huge price jump. To ease the pain new rates were implemented in three steps with the full amount effective as of July first.
The summertime months of July, August & September bring the largest electric bills since air conditioning is in use. We have been conserving this year and instead of running the air constantly we pop open windows whenever possible. The July bill came and since our consumption was down the total charges were similar to past years.
Well... Mother Nature struck with uncontrollable force delivering many hot humid days during the past month and the damage report just arrived. In years past the typical bill in August would be a little over $300 but thanks to the big jump in electric prices it is now nearly Five Hundred!
I run around the house turning off lights and keep the curtains closed all day to minimize the hot sunlight. Our hot water & clothes dryer is fueled with Natural Gas so I cannot find any ways to reduce usage.... Any ideas?
Dan,
Ouch...that looks like one of my electric bills, I just used the a/c for a couple of days but like you I am conserving. Incredible!!!
Dan,
Last week was brutal the air was so thick, had to use the a/c. Was the first time all summer. :)
Dan,
Its really windy today, nice breeze perfect for a run!
Dan:
Okay, you are just getting crazy with graphics here.......LOL
Sandra
Cyndee... I wondered how you survive with the heat & expense down there... Yes.. I live in a mansion that is about the same size as your castle. Curious if you know how much electricity you use, my big bill was for just over 2000 kw hours.
Beth...My wife did run around unplugging all the chargers but I think they are all back to the old ways.
Sandra... Figured the only way you'd look at the bill was to post in here!
Sandi... No we don't have the whole house fan and my wife whines if the Central AC is not always on. We did pretty good in July using the windows and keeping things closed up during the day and our bill was about $270. Does your weather really cool down at night... Here it remains pretty warm so we'd be sucking in hot humid air.
Suzanne... I did get out for a 5 miler... The warm breeze wasn't that bad and I even had the energy to mow the the lawn when I got home. Maybe I'll head out food shopping an get a treat.... :-)
Dan, how about oil lamps, washing cloths on the rock by the river, and a cloths line to dry the cloths. So what if the house is going to smell of oil, and the cloths a little ruff. Your a tough guy you can handle a little chaffing :)
All kidding aside, my house is all electric and my electric bills for the winter were not pleasant to look at, much less pay.
LOL @ George!
Dan,
I knew you could do it! My house is about the same size as yours, in MA there is an organization called MASS Save. My understanding is they come out and evaluate and make recommendations for ways to save on your energy bills. I will add that to my list to do tomorrow now I'm curious!
BTW,
cute graphics & how cool was that you exceeded your own expectations! :)
Brad... Tough to budget the unknown! But at least we don't see the bills laying around the house anymore.. Just a quick mouse click and it disappears just as quick as my money...
George... I've got that river in the back yard and will credit you when I tell Sandra the new laundy rules. Chaffing was a quickly learned lesson.... now when running I go Commando!
Suzanne...We have a similar program and they offer off-peak pricing if you sign up for the program and reduce consumption from 12-8 pm but they don't recommend it for homes with central AC. Yesterday while I was out running and then cutting the grass the rest of the family was in the house whining it's to hot because the house was at 75.
Teri...Believe me I grumble at my wife when she decides to cook a roast on the hottest of days... Think she does these things just to aggravate me and make life difficult.
Thesea... That is some temperature variation but certainly nice.... The house must be so cool in the morning that you can close it up and enjoy nice temps all day.
Susie...I'm learning how much cheaper it is all over the country. Think I'll be looking at a major relocation for my retirement years.
Dan, I am sure Sandra will be happy to write you instructions on how it is done :)
As far as the running goes, that was more information then I needed ....... LOL
Ahhhh Dan we have the same problem here! When we first moved in our electric bills were a smidge over 100 and now, in the same house they are close to $500! This is a span of only 4 years!!!!
We are slowly switching to CFB's, we use our timer thermostat,etc etc etc. The only thing we have changed is that we added a pool the year after we moved here and pools do cost as much as A/C to run so we don't run the pool that much. We throw a load of laundry in the washer in the AM and throw it in the dryer right before bed and run all appliances that put out heat like the dishwasher right before bed.
Electric rates are crazy!