Heat and power costs

[Texasgal]

Just received last months electic bill.

550.00!!!! I have 1900 sq ft. I keep my air moderate and water usage to a minimum.

WTF??? I know it's been HOT, but DAMN!

Ramen here I come. :(

[Shagbark Hickory]

1. That's got to be a mistake. I'd dispute it.

[Texasgal]

4. Not sure it;s a mistake.

I think it's an outlandish Texas summer.

I am beside myself! I will be calling, but I think it's just what is "is". Unfortunately.

ARRRRG!

[Shagbark Hickory]

7. What was it last year when it was only 98 instead of 108?

If it's anything like here, the AC runs all day long continuously. It would be running all day long whether it's 88 or 98 or 108.

[Texasgal]

10. I don't remember. :(

All I know is that my bill has NEVER been this high! :(

[Shagbark Hickory]

13. Then chances are it's a mistake. You have nothing to lose by calling up the power company and saying

"Hi I think I may have a mistake on my bill... I realize it's super hot out but I don't believe my consumption has risen dramatically. Can you please look at my billing history and see if there's any abnormalities and if so please send someone to inspect the meter or if that's not possible, please adjust the balance to last years consumption."

It could be a computer glitch or the house next door may be stealing your electricity to cultivate marijuana.

[Texasgal]

15. Oh absolutely

I am just afraid they are gonna say..."sorry" hot summer toots! :(

[Shagbark Hickory]

18. Oh you can count on them saying that. Just be persistent and polite and they'll eventually

do something to get you off the phone.

[notadmblnd]

2. I have 1265 sq ft. Mine was 147.00

been running two ac window units almost daily along with ceiling fans. I have turned them off on cooler days (under 85) and when I'm out of the house.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Using the window A/c and ceiling fans in just a couple rooms only

dropped our bill by about 1/3. House wide A/C goes off about 2/3 of the time, we use the Japanese model of just staying in one area of the house with the window units during the dog days of summer.

And we got the big A/C units cleaned and "tuned up" this spring, made a huge difference in effectiveness when we do use them to cool the house before bed and in the morning.

[notadmblnd]

6. it does. the two window units are in the bedrooms.

If I shut the bathroom door and close the shades, the fans pull the cool air out of the bedrooms and the entire house stays cool. Oh yeah, and I don't cook inside, cause that really heats up the house. And I have a load of insulation in the attic.

[MADem]

5. Are you cooling your entire house 'round the clock?

Time to close off some rooms, close some curtains, check insulation, only run the air when you're home, that kind of stuff...!

[Texasgal]

9. Oh no... no way

No cooking indoors. Shades pulled and no one in the house from 8-5.

2 rooms closed off. Just dogs when I turn the air to 89 dduring the day when we are gone to work.

I am confused as to why the bill is so high, haven't changed my habits at all. It is HOT though. Very HOT.

[MADem]

11. Do you have a fan or two to help move the air around?

Are you hanging out on the "hot side" of your house?

[Texasgal]

12. I have ceiling fans in all the rooms

use them in the living room and bedroom only. The other rooms are closed off.

[MADem]

17. The only thing I can think of is that someone--maybe a neighbor--has tapped into your

electricity and is stealing from you. Are there any houses that look like pot grow facilities near you?

You should call up the power company and see what you were paying a year ago at this time. If it's less than say, half what you are paying now, there is something amiss. Maybe the electric company can come out and have a look.

[Texasgal]

19. You bet I'll be calling

I am just floored that my bill is so high.

Just spoke with a neighbor and she said her bill is just as much!

Good LORD!

[MADem]

20. Are they saying on the bill that there's an increase in the charge for KWH?

You might want to try their website and see if you can get some answers there, as well.

I hate it when utilities do this kind of crap.

[Texasgal]

21. I'm just wondering

if our bills go high when shitty weather hits.

makes me wonder.

[MADem]

24. They have to tell you how much they charge per "unit"--be it therms or KWH or what-have-you.

If you have previous bills, you can compare those costs.

They are supposed to tell you when they up the rates, too.

[customerserviceguy]

27. It may well be that it costs your utility

more per KWH in the high demand season than it does in a lower demand season.

[customerserviceguy]

26. The hotter it is

the harder your A/C units have to work. That takes extra electricity.

Also, you might want to get a home energy audit, the tiny leaks you could have might really be costing you this year, since it's been so damned hot in your end of the country. You might have the same habits, but your A/C has been fighting an uphill battle.

Imagine the difference between driving a car with only you in it, and then with that car loaded to the gills with heavy stuff. Even with the same driving habits, you're going to use more fuel.

[RebelOne]

8. I live in a mobile home and run two A/Cs 24/7.

One is in the back bedroom and the other is in the living room. Both cool the whole place even when the temps are in the high 90s. My bill never runs over $100 in the summer. But in the winter, it is higher because my furnace went out a few years ago and I have to run 2 space heaters. Those things really suck up the electricty. Good thing I live in Georgia where our winters are usually fairly mild. But summers are hot as hell.

[Shagbark Hickory]

14. And usually it's those portable air conditioners that are incredibly expensive to operate.

I've had higher bills running those then with a central AC unit.

[TBF]

16. I know ours too - a little over $600

we have 2500 sq ft with 2 A/C units. I keep the lights off but it is admittedly cool and the kids/dog run in and out. Our water bills were high too with watering in June/July, so I stopped in August. I don't want to overuse water anyway so I run the dishwasher at night etc...

ETA -- after reading through all the posts it sounds like you use your air a lot less than we do. I'm home during the day and keep it in the low 70s. So that is why our bill is high for 3 mos. of summer, yours seems out of line since you don't have that kind of usage. In the winter our bills run around $100 because I prefer sweaters and rarely turn on the furnace.

[Texasgal]

22. Honestly, I am confused!

I do use the air at night to 74 or 75 because it;s freaking HOT! I don't keep it on all day though and we have following water rationing put forth by the city.

I mean, I am not gonna fry... but DAYUM! Five hundy?

[TBF]

25. Check your rate per kilowatt or whatever too -

I cannot recall what mine is - or what good rates are - but I remember 2 summers ago we had a bill that was $800 and I changed companies to get a better rate, and have taken advantage of opportunities to lock into lower rates since then. That could be the problem.

[notadmblnd]

31. how long has it been since you cleaned the unit that is outside of your house?

those things can get clogged with all kinds of debris causing it to work harder to cool things off.

[IDemo]

23. $36

1150 sq. ft., two window AC units generally run only when it's over 85 or so inside. We're acclimated.

[AtomicKitten]

28. $50/mo year-round.

SF. No air conditioning; it isn't needed. Rare use of heat; occasionally during the day because for some bizarre reason it's colder during the day than at night, but I always leave the bathroom skylight window open at night. Great insulation, house on top of garage and heat really does rise.

[unkachuck]

29. "...550.00!!!!..."

....you've been Enron-ed....they're baaaack....

....I live in a 1000 sq/ft in the Midwest, have 3 small 500w window units that I use as necessary, maintain 70-72 deg f around the clock, bill for July was $120....

[MrsBrady]

30. how much are you paying per kwh?

per kilowatt hour

[SammyWinstonJack]

32. Haven't received mine yet. but the last one was 338 down from 365.

San Antonio here and my house is just under 1900 sq ft. We keep the ac on 82 day and night. I hope my bill isn't that high. :scared:


Just checked e-mail bill was 316. You should call and inquire about your bill. Good luck.