Electric Bills

GRRRRRRRRRRR! I open the bill last night - $219.00.



Looking over the bill I see this:

Bill based on: Estimated Meter Reading, Storm Related, Prorated Bill.



I called up JCP&L last night, but the hold time was over 30 minutes.



I plan on calling them today sometime if I can find the time. Cavemen had more light in their caves than I do in my house. Here I am removing appliances, unplugging devices when not in use, and doing everything I can to lower my bill, and I get the highest bill ever.

Mine Varies alot I guess. I think it's because I have to read the meter myself. I do it every two or three months. They estimate the rest of the times. Or charge me $25 to read it for me when I forget.

January 26, 2009 $163.34
December 26, 2008 $214.53
November 26, 2008 $155.86
October 27, 2008 $107.96
September 26, 2008 $154.96
August 25, 2008 $161.24
July 25, 2008 $150.86
June 25, 2008 $76.35
May 27, 2008 $156.50
April 25, 2008 $164.25
March 25, 2008 $377.27
February 25, 2008 $145.95
January 25, 2008 $148.90
December 26, 2007 $139.43
November 26, 2007 $150.47
October 25, 2007 $105.85
September 25, 2007 $152.26
August 27, 2007 $153.05
July 25, 2007 $117.31
June 25, 2007 $153.83
May 25, 2007 $156.40
April 25, 2007 $154.43
March 26, 2007 $155.61
February 26, 2007 $163.70
January 25, 2007 $184.83
December 27, 2006 $156.10
November 27, 2006 $145.54
October 25, 2006 $112.46
September 25, 2006 $154.91
August 25, 2006 $155.19
July 25, 2006 $108.90
June 26, 2006 $160.16
May 25, 2006 $162.13
April 25, 2006 $141.80
March 27, 2006 $162.23
February 27, 2006 $158.01
January 25, 2006 $161.85
December 27, 2005 $168.03
November 25, 2005 $101.30
October 25, 2005 $162.97
September 26, 2005 $216.77
August 25, 2005 $158.10
July 25, 2005 $172.44
June 30, 2005 $156.50
May 25, 2005 $185.37
April 25, 2005 $152.38
March 25, 2005 $152.38
February 25, 2005 $108.43
January 25, 2005 $163.35
December 27, 2004 $285.84
November 26, 2004 $102.16
October 25, 2004 $127.16

Normal months about $75-85 Sumer may be $130-$150 depending on how much AC is used.

Electric Stove, Storage Freezer in basement, Stoker stove 24/7, Sump Pump, Air Purifier ½ day, Washer Dryer electric, dishwasher, Electric Hot Water Heater, Entire house outfitted with CFL bulbs, LCD TV with Energy Saver feature on, XBOX 360 many hours a week (Love that GTA).

Only 2 of us with the 2 English Springer’s.

Bill
Who is your supplier PPL, PECO or UGI?

I was reading about PA rate caps expiring. Seems the way this rate cap is being phased out is by the utility company paying off something called 'stranded costs'. From what I gather they were poor performing electric generating investments. Anyway to make a long story short. UGI, (my provider that's why I remember) and several other suppliers in western PA had the rate caps dropped in 2006. UGI's price jumped 35%. In 2009 PPL's rate will be deregulated and the last company PECO (Phila area) is scheduled for 2010.

If you're provider is PPL or PECO grab your socks next year. The price jump is incredible.

I have Peco right now and it's already about 16 cents a KWH. I sure do miss Bechtelsivlle where it was more like 9 cents. Short of putting a wind turbine in the backyard not sure what I can do when it jumps so I will get ready to brace.

Hollyfeld wrote:I've been checking my appliances with a Kill-a-Watt EZ. My bill last month was over $200 and I'm currently trying to find the culprit. I've removed a box freezer, 70 gallon fishtank, and a hot tub from the bill. My next bill (due in the mail any day) will show all of them off 100%.

The Kill-a-Watt Ez, connected for about 24 hours to each unit has so far shown me the following.

Based on a per-month cost:

TV, cable box - $4.00
Fridge - $4.15
Computer - $12.35 (on for the entire duration of the test. Monitor goes into sleep mode after 10 minutes)

I've been getting into the habit of shutting down the computer at night and during the day while at work.

Next up is the washing machine.

Holly,
Can you determine kwh's with that gizmo? I'd like to know how many watts a standard desktop computer and monito use in one hr.
And how does a cable box equal a frig in energy use? Seems like a frig should use 4x the wattage.

our electric bill went way up recently......almost 300 bucks (5 people, weekend visitors all the time 6 cats, a dog, 2 rabbits, 2 water heaters, 2 stokers, 2 freezers. 2 fridges, 6 computers, lots of lights. etc)

I got this http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Line-Innovations-Power ... B000RBEGTS through my power company for $25.00 & it lets you tell exactly how much eccentricity you are using at any moment & the cost.

Last year I averaged $108/month for about 1035 kwh/mo or about 10.5c per kwh. There is a 9c night rate and a 11.5c day rate component.

Our supplier is NYSEG. The house is about 1800 sq ft living space, electric stove, electric dryer, window A/C units in summer, coal stoker boiler heat and hot water 7 months of year, electric hot water 5 months of year. I have mostly fluorescent lighting, standard tube TV set, house is well insulated, no summer shade, no significant wind (except me).

I am happy with my bill now. I used to have electric thermal storage units when the night rate was 6c per kwh. My most impressive month was a cold January many years ago when we used 6800kwh or about $400. All I can say is I'm glad is wasn't resistance heating at about 12c per kwh back then. That would have racked up about $800 for the month.

Those electric bills are crazy. I know I live alone , so mine can't really compare to alot of you guys. If mine goes over $70 I get pissed. I figure $15 is from the stoker , $8 for the aireation system in my pond. Thats on a timer to run 3 times , 2 hours each time. My hot water tank is on a timer. Comes on in the morning and evening with a thermo blanket around it and the top. Sad note , I sided the house and those ^#@*ers raised my property tax $550.

Cap wrote:

Hollyfeld wrote:I've been checking my appliances with a Kill-a-Watt EZ. My bill last month was over $200 and I'm currently trying to find the culprit. I've removed a box freezer, 70 gallon fishtank, and a hot tub from the bill. My next bill (due in the mail any day) will show all of them off 100%.

The Kill-a-Watt Ez, connected for about 24 hours to each unit has so far shown me the following.

Based on a per-month cost:

TV, cable box - $4.00
Fridge - $4.15
Computer - $12.35 (on for the entire duration of the test. Monitor goes into sleep mode after 10 minutes)

I've been getting into the habit of shutting down the computer at night and during the day while at work.

Next up is the washing machine.

Holly,
Can you determine kwh's with that gizmo? I'd like to know how many watts a standard desktop computer and monito use in one hr.
And how does a cable box equal a frig in energy use? Seems like a frig should use 4x the wattage.

Yes there is an option that tells you the kwh.

I did purchase an energy star fridge and it is sort of on the full side, but as far as it using about the same as a tv, I'm at a loss. I thought for sure the fridge would be highest of all the appliances that I can plug in.

[ Sad note , I sided the house and those ^#@*ers raised my property tax $550. [/quote]

Truer words were never spoken then when President Reagan said the worst thing you can hear is “I’m from the government and I’m here to help you.” I ran into some bad contractors when putting an addition on. The county fined me and treated me like a “dumb blonde” (no offense) for the contractor not pulling the permits. The work started just before 9/11 when my husband was mobilized and gone. I wasn't thinking about permits. Then the county inspectors came into our house and looked not only at the new work but everything that even looked not original. Thankfully I caught on fast and when the inspector came for the final review and asked if he could come in I knew that I could say no and did. He walked around outside for a while and then went away. What a scam! I have a list a mile long of negative encounters with the county inspectors but that’s for another thread.

I can’t tell you what my monthly electric bill is doing because we are on the monthly budget plan. We pay $140 a month year round so that we don’t get wopped with a big increase over the summer with the AC. I would suspect that our use has gone up a little due to the fans we have pushing the heated air upstairs and the humidifier. We have tried to counter that increase by unplugging smaller appliances that have LED lights and burn power when just sitting around like coffee makers, cell phone rechargers, and bread makers. Those types of things times the 4 of us can really add up. Lisa

We have tried to counter that increase by unplugging smaller appliances that have LED lights and burn power when just sitting around like coffee makers, cell phone rechargers, and bread makers. Those types of things times the 4 of us can really add up. Lisa

I read an article about all of those small appliances. They have even come up with a name for it "Vampire Electric Use". I started going through the house looking at everything we have that fits in that category. Man, it's quite a bit. I started this week going through and disconnecting or turning off that type of stuff. Maybe we'll save some money. The writer of the article I wrote claims to have saved 40.00 a month. We'll see.

[/quote]

I read an article about all of those small appliances. They have even come up with a name for it "Vampire Electric Use". I started going through the house looking at everything we have that fits in that category. Man, it's quite a bit. I started this week going through and disconnecting or turning off that type of stuff. Maybe we'll save some money. The writer of the article I wrote claims to have saved 40.00 a month. We'll see.[/quote]

My girlfriend always complaines when I do this or, god forbid, turn a light off in a room not in use.

Darn it. I spoke too soon. I never should have said that I was happy with my bill! I heard today that NYSEG just petitioned the NY Public Service Commission for a 19% rate increase.