Electric Baseboard V Stoker

heatwithcoal · Post by **heatwithcoal** » Tue. Dec. 30, 2008 9:37 am

I went out of state the week before Christmas to visit the in-laws. Instead of arranging for my buddy to come over to feed both my stokers, ( I am pretty particular, anal one might say, about how I load the stoves and empty the ashes so I didn't want to put him through that process) I just turned on 2 electric baseboards for the week we were gone to heat the main living area of about 950 sqft. I just got my electric bill and It cost about $100 for one week

While burning coal, so far this year I have averaged about 50lbs/day total between two stokers heating the entire house of 2700 sqft. to around 70*

COAL ROCKS

Mark

thepamperedlady · Post by **thepamperedlady** » Tue. Dec. 30, 2008 9:48 am

Wow. That really stinks.

My parents have electric heat as well (We're in R.I., pretty much same weather). Before the electric increases last year, keeping the house at 60 for rooms with pipes and off every where else unless company was coming over, electric bill of about $350-400. CRAZY.

They also had a wood stove in the basement to supplement!

This year, they liked my coal stoker so much, they got one for the basement, one for the living room. No more high electric for them!!!

They could feel your pain.

LeonMSPT · Post by **LeonMSPT** » Tue. Dec. 30, 2008 9:59 pm

Some people are all over the electric heat. It's always been a no-no here in Maine. With the weather we get frequently through the winter, you'd never be able to afford it.

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Wed. Dec. 31, 2008 6:15 am

LeonMSPT wrote:It's always been a no-no here in Maine

"Always" meaning the last 30 years or so. In the early 70's I worked building new houses. Every one got all electric heat. I might add within 5 yrs every one got an "electric change out" and had oil heat installed. When people got their first $500 electric bill, ouch!

heatwithcoal · Post by **heatwithcoal** » Wed. Dec. 31, 2008 7:56 am

I was on a equal-pay plan with the electric company when I switched from electric baseboard to pellets about 5 years ago. I called them to get off that plan, they said, "Are you sure? we show you will be paying $450-500 month during the winter months to heat" I said "Uh.... no I won't". Now that I got off pellets, I am really saving money.

When I was on equal-pay, I was paying about $225/month(my whole house is electric), plus every year I would get a $700-$800 bill in April to "adjust" the equal pay because I they "mis-calculated" the previous year

Apparently I used too much!

While oil and coal prices seem to be converging, coal is still to way to go when compared to electricity.

Mark