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Summer Electric Bills

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ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Aug 15, 2011 11:10 PM
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).
Aug 15, 2011 11:10pm
karen lotz's avatar

karen lotz

TuTu Train

22,284 posts
Aug 15, 2011 11:11 PM
ernest_t_bass;863642 wrote: My hose is about 2000 square feet.

You wish.
Aug 15, 2011 11:11pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Aug 15, 2011 11:14 PM
karen lotz;863644 wrote:You wish.

LOL, nice catch.
Aug 15, 2011 11:14pm
Fab1b's avatar

Fab1b

The Bald A-Hole!!

12,949 posts
Aug 15, 2011 11:16 PM
140 last month thinking 170 range coming this month
Aug 15, 2011 11:16pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Aug 15, 2011 11:27 PM
One thing that pisses me off about AEP (American Electric Power) is that they do not offer a budget plan.
Aug 15, 2011 11:27pm
killer_ewok's avatar

killer_ewok

iRep

11,379 posts
Aug 15, 2011 11:40 PM
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.
Aug 15, 2011 11:40pm
chicago510's avatar

chicago510

Original Chatterer

5,728 posts
Aug 16, 2011 12:01 AM
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
Aug 16, 2011 12:01am
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Aug 16, 2011 12:30 AM
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.
Aug 16, 2011 12:30am
M

MontyBrunswick

Aug 16, 2011 1:49 AM
My electric is budgeted into my monthly rent.

Hope this helps.
Aug 16, 2011 1:49am
Midstate01's avatar

Midstate01

Senior Member

14,766 posts
Aug 16, 2011 1:58 AM
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
Aug 16, 2011 1:58am
oberhaus's avatar

oberhaus

Senior Member

868 posts
Aug 16, 2011 2:08 AM
$208 for 18 days in July. 1st-18th. We just moved there on the 1st.
Aug 16, 2011 2:08am
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Aug 16, 2011 8:39 AM
oberhaus;863743 wrote:$208 for 18 days in July. 1st-18th. We just moved there on the 1st.

Damn.
Aug 16, 2011 8:39am
T

Tiernan

Senior Member

13,021 posts
Aug 16, 2011 8:56 AM
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
Aug 16, 2011 8:56am
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Aug 16, 2011 9:22 AM
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.
Aug 16, 2011 9:22am
B

bigkahuna

Senior Member

4,454 posts
Aug 16, 2011 9:22 AM
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.
Aug 16, 2011 9:22am
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

Senior Member

7,733 posts
Aug 16, 2011 9:28 AM
usually $100-110.
Aug 16, 2011 9:28am
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

Senior Member

7,733 posts
Aug 16, 2011 9:34 AM
usually $100-110.
Aug 16, 2011 9:34am
F

fan_from_texas

Senior Member

2,693 posts
Aug 16, 2011 10:11 AM
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.
Aug 16, 2011 10:11am
Curly J's avatar

Curly J

Self Pwner in Training.

7,282 posts
Aug 16, 2011 10:16 AM
I'm not sure what my bill runs. The Wife pays that bill. ;)
Aug 16, 2011 10:16am
McFly1955's avatar

McFly1955

Senior Member

1,441 posts
Aug 16, 2011 10:22 AM
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.
Aug 16, 2011 10:22am
RedRider1's avatar

RedRider1

Senior Member

3,850 posts
Aug 16, 2011 10:50 AM
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.
Aug 16, 2011 10:50am
B

bigkahuna

Senior Member

4,454 posts
Aug 16, 2011 12:24 PM
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..
Aug 16, 2011 12:24pm
F

fan_from_texas

Senior Member

2,693 posts
Aug 16, 2011 12:44 PM
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.
Aug 16, 2011 12:44pm
S

slingshot4ever

Senior Member

4,085 posts
Aug 16, 2011 12:46 PM
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....
Aug 16, 2011 12:46pm
tk421's avatar

tk421

Senior Member

8,500 posts
Aug 16, 2011 12:53 PM
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.
Aug 16, 2011 12:53pm