Archive

Summer Electric Bills

  • ernest_t_bass
    With the heat wave we had this summer, what were your highest bills? I live in an old house with a lot of windows, and the insulation is poor at best.

    Just received our last month's electric bill at $237, highest I've ever had. Anyone have a higher one? My house is about 2000 square feet (+500 basement).
  • karen lotz
    ernest_t_bass;863642 wrote: My hose is about 2000 square feet.

    You wish.
  • ernest_t_bass
    karen lotz;863644 wrote:You wish.

    LOL, nice catch.
  • Fab1b
    140 last month thinking 170 range coming this month
  • ernest_t_bass
    One thing that pisses me off about AEP (American Electric Power) is that they do not offer a budget plan.
  • killer_ewok
    ernest_t_bass;863658 wrote:One thing that pisses me off about AEP (American Electric Power) is that they do not offer a budget plan.

    Yes they do. I'm on it.
  • chicago510
    ernest_t_bass;863658 wrote:One thing that pisses me off about AEP (American Electric Power) is that they do not offer a budget plan.

    They most definitely do. They have budget billing and an average monthly payment plan

    My bill in the Summer is usually ~$80 for a 650 SqFt Apartment
  • ernest_t_bass
    killer_ewok;863673 wrote:Yes they do. I'm on it.
    chicago510;863690 wrote:They most definitely do. They have budget billing and an average monthly payment plan

    My bill in the Summer is usually ~$80 for a 650 SqFt Apartment

    Guess I'll have to call them.
  • dlazz
    My electric is budgeted into my monthly rent.

    Hope this helps.
  • Midstate01
    People we know who live off base here in Hawaii have electric bills ranging from 400-750 a month. Just another reason we chose to live in base. Free housing and utilities. You can't win the housing battle in Hawaii, off base
  • oberhaus
    $208 for 18 days in July. 1st-18th. We just moved there on the 1st.
  • ernest_t_bass
    oberhaus;863743 wrote:$208 for 18 days in July. 1st-18th. We just moved there on the 1st.

    Damn.
  • Tiernan
    ernest_t_bass;863712 wrote:Guess I'll have to call them.
    Can't believe I'm actually helping you...but call (614) 716-1000
  • ernest_t_bass
    Tiernan;863838 wrote:Can't believe I'm actually helping you...but call (614) 716-1000

    I'm in NW Ohio. For some reason, I'm thinking that I called them and asked them in the past, and it was unavailable. That was years ago, so maybe it has changed.
  • bigkahuna
    We have an 1100 sq. ft. ranch with 2 GIANT trees out front. At the warmest time of the day, these trees shade about 80% of the house. We have excellent insulation. During the month of July, our air pretty much stayed on everyday/ all day at 72 degrees (We both love it cool). I'm actually under a blanket right now haha.

    Our most expensive bill was $110. Couple that with the $25 gas bill, and we had $135 in utilities... Love it.

    In the winter, I think our most expensive heating bill was around $150; the furnace too stays around 72.
  • ZWICK 4 PREZ
    usually $100-110.
  • ZWICK 4 PREZ
    usually $100-110.
  • fan_from_texas
    Our bill last month was $98. We live in a 2400 sq ft house, but we take steps to minimize energy use and cut our bill at every opportunity.
  • Curly J
    I'm not sure what my bill runs. The Wife pays that bill. ;)
  • McFly1955
    Just checked online -- $186 --- last month was $154 --- last august and september were around $115 (our highest 2 bills in the 3 years we've owned the house up until the last couple months)....I know it's been hot, but these last couple bills have been crazy. If it weren't for our daughter we'd be keeping the house a lot warmer than we do.

    I'm messing with the programmable thermostat tonight.
  • RedRider1
    Went from 1600 sq. ft in old house to around 2600 sq. ft. (2000 + finished basement) in new house. First full month's electric bill was $190 (includes trash @ $11/mo.) and that was July where 90 degree days were the norm.

    Old house electric bills were routinely above $200 for summer months where an ineffecient AC unit works to cool an inefficient home built in 1940.

    Can't complain. High ceilings in new place will kill me in the winter time though.
  • bigkahuna
    fan_from_texas;863879 wrote:Our bill last month was $98. We live in a 2400 sq ft house, but we take steps to minimize energy use and cut our bill at every opportunity.

    You have my attention..
  • fan_from_texas
    bigkahuna;863984 wrote:You have my attention..

    The small things pay off. We switched our outdoor lights (that are on all night long) from incandescent to LEDs. 3 100-watt bulbs running each night for 9 hours @ 10c/kWh for 30 days is about $8/mo. Switching to LEDs cuts that by almost 90%, so we save ~$7/mo. from that change alone.

    We have a programmable thermostat and adjust based on when we're home or away. We run a humidifier/dehumidifier based on the season to control humidity (which can adjust how hot/cold you feel). We also keep plants around to moderate the humidity.

    When we bought blinds, we went with double-cell blinds that reflect the sun's heat on the outside. In the winter, we open them up to steal some solar heat, but in the summer, we keep them down and reflect out much of the heat.

    To the extent possible, we wash with cold water, rather than hot, and try to take shorter showers. Heating your water is often a big energy cost. Check to ensure that your hot water heater and relevant pipes are properly insulated, as this can save some big money.

    Basically, it's a lot of little things that make up a few bucks here or there each month, but combined, they result in pretty significant savings.
  • slingshot4ever
    ernest_t_bass;863642 wrote:With the heat wave we had this summer, what were your highest bills? I live in an old house with a lot of windows, and the insulation is poor at best.

    Just received our last month's electric bill at $237, highest I've ever had. Anyone have a higher one? My house is about 2000 square feet (+500 basement).
    My house is same size and biggest bill has been 70. Electric stove/oven but a gas water heater. Maybe you just keep too much shit turned on/plugged in when not needed. Or you keep your house as cold as an igloo or need new windows/insulation....
  • tk421
    We live in an old drafty house without central A/C. So, this current bill for July 12-Aug 12 was the highest of the year. We used 1150 kWhs for a total around $150, although with our budget we only have to pay 67 a month. It will all average out over the year, in the winter we use a lot less electricity.