Electric bills

[thatguy]

Am taking a poll on the monthly average of your annual electric cost. Mine seems obcenely inflated. Brief description of property, electric provider and monthly average. Here is mine.
4 acres w/ shop (3 stall) and "granny house", Pool, and hot tub. Propane heat, rest is all electric.
PGE monthly average :summer - $911.00 (May - Aug)
winter - $585.00 (Sept - April)
Have only met 1 or 2 people who pay more, but they have places that look like disneyland.
Not trying to disect it, just wondering if others get hammered every month.
Tommy

[Wheeler]

River house about 40 per month.
Ranch house, 80 acre, 2,700 ft. house 0 per month, I am on Solar.

[thatguy]

River house about 40 per month.
Ranch house, 80 acre, 2,700 ft. house 0 per month, I am on Solar.
Damit! Got a solar etimate, was like 80K installed. House is 2400' ranch.

[SB]

4/2 ranch, 2000, sq ft., nobody home all day
$200 summer, $140 winter
I am considered low by my friends, but this area is high compared to surrounding counties
New a/c unit 2 years ago cut the bill way down. Also turned out I had a duct loose, blowing cold ac into the attic instead of the house.
"Fuel cost adjustment" is adding 30%.

[Big Warlock]

Two houses, one 5000 sq ft the other 3000 sq ft and last month's bill was $900. Both have pools and jacuzzies that are electric plus a/c units and only one has a gas heater. I think the winter it comes down to about $400?

[lalhc]

Lake Arrowhead, CA - 3200 sq ft home (no A/C) Avg bill $95/month
Lake Havasu - 1700 sq ft home - I live here during summer (Summer $240 per month & Winter $85 per month)

[pw_Tony]

Mine's $110 this month. Over here in Bullhead city, but the difference is I ain't got no AC!:jawdrop:

[STV_Keith]

In Vegas, 1630sf 3/2.5 2-story. Low ~$90 (winter), high ~$325 (summer). Heat, stove, dryer and H2O heater are gas.

[uvindex]

Am taking a poll on the monthly average of your annual electric cost. Mine seems obcenely inflated. Brief description of property, electric provider and monthly average. Here is mine.
4 acres w/ shop (3 stall) and "granny house", Pool, and hot tub. Propane heat, rest is all electric.
PGE monthly average :summer - $911.00 (May - Aug)
winter - $585.00 (Sept - April)
Have only met 1 or 2 people who pay more, but they have places that look like disneyland.
Not trying to disect it, just wondering if others get hammered every month.
TommyYikes, that is a big bill. When you say inflated do you mean the cost per KW or do you mean the number of KWs that you're using? If your cost per KW is about the same as folks with more normal bills, you might want to look into what's consuming all that power (like does your shop have its own meter? Do you have some big-ass equipment that runs all the time? etc. Are you talking about two or three individual buildings, each with its own AC?) (And make sure nobody's stealing power from you, although probably unlikely if you're on a four-acre property.)
Good luck.

[R.A.D.man]

Texas, 2500 sqft, 70 degrees all the time 24/7/365.
300 winter, 350 summer
My house is 90% shaded by big trees all the time.

[thatguy]

In Vegas, 1630sf 3/2.5 2-story. Low ~$90 (winter), high ~$325 (summer). Heat, stove, dryer and H2O heater are gas.
Thats a biggy, the gas. I am limited to propane @ todays prices it is no savings for me. 0 propane in summer, $250 or so a month in winter. (Norcal)

[ADDICTED]

Riverside, CA
3,200 Sqft single story. Two AC units. Temp set at 74 degrees.
Pool and Spa.
Average bill is $550 - $650. Have seen $800+.
Just installed some new high effecient pool pump and have not seen a bill over $250 since install in fact it is usually around around $175.00 know.
The pool pump is about $1,200.

[djunkie]

Mine was $45 last month. Its nice living by the beach and not needing a/c. :D :D

[hkunz]

CA house, 2300 sq ft, $700 - $800 in summer, $400 - $500 in winter, with $81,000 (9kW) solar system. No pool, just one koi pond that runs two pumps. We recently sold our marine aquarium, so that should drop the CA energy bills a bit. We do live on the face of the sun - Bakersfield, where it is currently 86 in my back yard - a cool day. Gray Davis's legacy lives on.
AZ house, 1500 sq ft, $60 in summer, $40 in winter, with R-38 walls, celing, etc., in Lake Havasu, where it is currently 105, but doesn't feel as hot as Bakersfield at that temp.

[thatguy]

Yikes, that is a big bill. When you say inflated do you mean the cost per KW or do you mean the number of KWs that you're using? If your cost per KW is about the same as folks with more normal bills, you might want to look into what's consuming all that power (like does your shop have its own meter? Do you have some big-ass equipment that runs all the time? etc. Are you talking about two or three individual buildings, each with its own AC?) (And make sure nobody's stealing power from you, although probably unlikely if you're on a four-acre property.)
Good luck.
Am going to have the AC guys come out and inspect the ducting in the attic. It is a central roof unit. Like the biggest one. One guy said the previous owners should have installed 2 medium units. Would have been more efficient with far less ducting. The hot tub can add $100.00. I unplugged it last month and bill went down about $80.00. Also have a programmable thermostat, but when I leave for a few weeks to work I come home and the damned no-jobbers (kids)have it holding at 75* or so. Need a password thermostat or maybe just bury the little shats in the field! Only the house has AC, shop has fans.
Anybody know of programmables that can be locked?
Tommy

[uvindex]

Anybody know of programmables that can be locked?
TommyYou can just put one of those locking clear plastic covers over it, like you see in stores. Not the prettiest, but cheap and efficient. :)
http://images1.hdpi.com/product_enlarged/honeywell-cg-511.jpg
I just googled "locking thermostat cover" to find this one ($12.57). They might sell them at Home Depot and such too. Good luck!

[thatguy]

Riverside, CA
3,200 Sqft single story. Two AC units. Temp set at 74 degrees.
Pool and Spa.
Average bill is $550 - $650. Have seen $800+.
Just installed some new high effecient pool pump and have not seen a bill over $250 since install in fact it is usually around around $175.00 know.
The pool pump is about $1,200.
WOW, that is a huge drop. My pool is 40K gallons, but I only run the pumps about 6 hrs a night. Sometimes during the day if a few peoplw are over. Got one filter pump and one sweep pump. Going to do some meter experiments switching pumps off and on.
Tommy
Thanks for all the responses, seems the CA people like me spend alot more.
Keep 'em coming!

[OCMerrill]

Damit! Got a solar etimate, was like 80K installed. House is 2400' ranch.
Believe it or not this sounds about right.
It's just right at about a 15 year pay back unless you can sell power back which usually never happens because you use it.
My feelings on Solar are that the technology will improve (more watts for less stuff all over) and last longer. IMO the payoff needs to be sooner and battery technology needs more refinement.
It definitely works for some.

[Miss Perfect]

Mine was $45 last month. Its nice living by the beach and not needing a/c. :D :D
Ditto. Mine was $48.00 last month. I love living by the water.

[Mr. Crusader 83]

2bed 2 bath duplex, 1100sf tile everywhere, right now its $130 a month and the a/c is set at 76 all day long. everything is electric, water softner, water heater, stove.

[ADDICTED]

WOW, that is a huge drop. My pool is 40K gallons, but I only run the pumps about 6 hrs a night. Sometimes during the day if a few peoplw are over. Got one filter pump and one sweep pump. Going to do some meter experiments switching pumps off and on.
Tommy
Thanks for all the responses, seems the CA people like me spend alot more.
Keep 'em coming!
It was enough, that my son can know go to daycare twice a week. I also only have one sweeper. My pool is also salt. I was running mine 8 hours in the winter to help keep the pipes from freezing. It then whent to 6 hours. Know it runs as much as it needs to and when it wants too.

[Mrs.Moose on the loose]

3/2 single story, All electric. New A/C and Heat unit this year, and they taped our ducks all around the edges. Use to be $275.00-$375.00 summer and winter was $150.00. Now summer runs $160.00-$200.00. But we set the thermastat at 74* I hate the heat. Winter I never use the heat at all, only the dryer, washer, and lights.
They say a whole house ceiling fan helps alot also.
Good Luck to you, also who reads your meter?, we use to have someone come by and read it, now we changed out to the digital laser ones where they point a gun/machine at it and it reads that way.
I would tell everyone to unplug everything, wash once a week, and live in the dark:jawdrop:

[jjk94]

Totaline and Honeywell both have programmable stats with lock.. But it is just a sequence of buttons to unlock..Haven't seen one with a password code yet

[Dave C]

Me too... $60 a month. thats with eveyone leaving the damn lights on :mad:
I don't even own an A/C. No pool... don't need em.
I need to change the stove to gas and we are good to go
Life is good.
Ditto. Mine was $48.00 last month. I love living by the water.

[Bre]

Mine was $500 this last month. I don't even wanna think about it.

[Mrs. Restless22]

Ours was 600-800 with a pool, 1500 sqft house.
Now its $200 with no pool, 2500 sqft house, and two A/C units running pretty much all day to keep the house at 70.
I dont know if its worth not having a pool, but Im glad I dont see that bill anymore!!! :sqeyes:

[Bre]

Riverside, CA
3,200 Sqft single story. Two AC units. Temp set at 74 degrees.
Pool and Spa.
Average bill is $550 - $650. Have seen $800+.
Just installed some new high effecient pool pump and have not seen a bill over $250 since install in fact it is usually around around $175.00 know.
The pool pump is about $1,200.
Give me the info on the pool pump, cause mine sucks!

[Pussywhippled]

Last July $1,100 and change.
3000sqft, pool, dual a/c ,etc...
Haven't paid attention to this summer, now I'm curious.

[Mrs. Restless22]

Last July $1,100 and change.
.
YIKES! :eek:

[Bre]

YIKES! :eek:
I'd give up the pool for that and get another house for that much :sqeyes:

[thatguy]

Last July $1,100 and change.
3000sqft, pool, dual a/c ,etc...
Haven't paid attention to this summer, now I'm curious.
My Brother!
Tommy :)

[Wheeler]

Damit! Got a solar etimate, was like 80K installed. House is 2400' ranch.
you should be able to get a kick ass system for 25k after rebates, tax incentives and such.

[Jbb]

Hmmm
I avg $150/ Mo
2 A/C units .....house is kept at 65-70 degrees.....100 amp service in my shop...electric stove ...gas heat
Southern Co.......home of cheap energy........its gone out once in the 10 yrs I have been here...for less than 2 hrs...

[shueman]

Our last bill was $362....2s, 2400sf, and "old" pool equip...

[rlemn8r]

Bill last month was 350.00. 1600 sf , all gas, but a/c unit is 13 yrs. old. Temp is set at 77...

[talkinghead]

Last month $150 - 1500 sq. ft house, AC ran mainly after 7PM -> 9AM or so.
This summer has not been that hot in Temecula.

[Kindsvater Flat]

1. both ranch houses 2300 & 3800.... $350 and $550
2. Shop 400-800
3. Seed Processing barn 1500 -2000/mon, aug-nov, plus 6000 gallons of propane.
4. Office $150
Can't remember what the irrigation pumps run but there is 6 of them and the smallest has a 40hp motor.

[Riveratz]

Havasu House. 1712 Sq Ft New House. Temp set at 78* during the day and 75 from 10PM - 6AM
Last Months bill. 179.00

[boatnam2]

Riverside, CA
3,200 Sqft single story. Two AC units. Temp set at 74 degrees.
Pool and Spa.
Average bill is $550 - $650. Have seen $800+.
Just installed some new high effecient pool pump and have not seen a bill over $250 since install in fact it is usually around around $175.00 know.
The pool pump is about $1,200.
last year 500-600 all summer,were in norco single story dual airs have been running the bedroom side and sucking up the heat on the living room side most of the summer.Run the pool pump 4 hours bill was doing good 300 or so but got a feeling it going to jump up this month,bottom line is if your exceed there baseline which all new house in the inland empire do even with good insulation and such with summer temps they sticck it in your ass reall good.between the 1200 a month tax bill and the 600 month electric bill plus the wear and tear on a car to commute and the 200 dollar fast trak bill im starting to say screw the 909.

[DaveTic]

4800sq' home 10 ton A/C 17seer stuff, 100,000 gal pool w/seven 3hp pumps highest bill $3500.00 avg. $2,000.00. Do the math solar just wont pay off, belive me I have looked hard.

[thatguy]

4800sq' home 10 ton A/C 17seer stuff, 100,000 gal pool w/seven 3hp pumps highest bill $3500.00 avg. $2,000.00. Do the math solar just wont pay off, belive me I have looked hard.
I suddenly fell so much better! Your place sounds like my brother in laws. His runs 2K-3K and he says solar would not make enough difference to justify it. But then, he doesn't pay his own bills. He has people that handle those little nuicances!