so I'm trying to understand my electric bill...

[rh71]

Got my first today (yes, part of my new-homeowner questions) ...

Says I used 977KWH in 30 days... totalling $129.

Breakdown:
250KWH @ .1249
727KWH @ .1179

I'm assuming that's separated divided between day and night ? Is this a lot? I don't even keep my computer running 24/7 ... but close to it. Nobody is home during work/business hours either. This is in NY (pertinent rates-wise).

 

[nord1899]

Not quite.

The first 250KWH is at the .1249 rate. The next 727KWH is at the .1179 rate. As I know you have LIPA, there are other rates too depending on how much you use.

Think of it as tiered charging.

 

[rh71]

Ok... well is 977KWH/mo. a lot used? We weren't even technically living here (using electricity much) for 10 of the 30 days.

 

[nord1899]

No idea. How big is your house? Is the electric bill estimated or measured (it will tell you on the bill, the actual measure it like every other month)? Gas or electric heat/stoves?

 

[Hoober]

Seems kind of high to me. We have a 2500 sq. foot house and pay around 120 bucks in the winter for ALL utilities: gas, electric, water, waste water.

130 bucks for electricity seems a little high. Then again, my wife's been nagging me because I always bug her to turn off the lights when she's finished in a room. She has a nasty habit of leaving EVERY light on in the house.

 

[Thegonagle]

That's an expensive rate (mine's about half that), but I guess that's the price you pay if you want electricity in NY.

How big is the place? Do you turn the lights off if you leave a room? How many computers, big-screen TVs? How do you heat the place? Do you have an electric clothes dryer? Electric stove? Dishwasher?

 

Calculate energy usage

Typical usage

My home consumes an average of 750 KW per month.

 

[rh71]

My God... I just went out for a quick reading of the meter and found I've only used 325KWH (we're hardly home weekdays/nights) since Dec 16. And they ESTIMATED 977KWH for 30 days from that date. I guess my question now (and I'll call) is if they'll credit me the difference when they actually come to read the meter next month like you say...

What a relief.

 

[Aquaman]

do you have electircal heatting? That could put a real big dent in your bill.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Led Zeppelin]

I'm renting a condo, maybe 1400 square feet (probably smaller), with electric heat. My electric bill went from $70.00 in November to $135.00 in December. I almost crapped my pants right then and there. Even with the electric heat, there is NO WAY it should double in just one month. I am only home at night, so I narrowed the source as to why the bill doubled to the drafty ass windows. The heat kicks on what seems like every 10 minutes, and stays on for at least 15 minutes before shutting off. This may be a topic for another thread, but is the landlord obligated to replace these windows? You can literally feel the wind when you stand next to the windows from all the leaks.

 

[Hoober]

Originally posted by: Aquaman
do you have electircal heatting? That could put a real big dent in your bill.

Cheers,
Aquaman

I love gas.

 

[rh71]

Zepplin, we had the same problem... really old single-sided windows and it's been a VERY cold winter. We bought $7 "plastic covers" from Walmart (in the home section) to cover all the windows and it's helped a great deal. We're replacing all windows before the next winter hits, but this was a cheap solution in the short run... even if they're not your windows to worry about, technically.

I don't use any electric heaters aside from the one out where the boiler is in the garage... I'll be turning that guy down soon, but we apparently haven't used that much power, so it's not a big worry anymore.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Hoober

Originally posted by: Aquaman
do you have electircal heatting? That could put a real big dent in your bill.

Cheers,
Aquaman

I love gas.

Yes, our oil heating bill is another issue. Is it summer yet ?

 

[nord1899]

Originally posted by: rh71
My God... I just went out for a quick reading of the meter and found I've only used 325KWH (we're hardly home weekdays/nights) since Dec 16. And they ESTIMATED 977KWH for 30 days from that date. I guess my question now (and I'll call) is if they'll credit me the difference when they actually come to read the meter next month like you say...

What a relief.

Yeah they do that at my apartment too. Oh the months they estimate, its way over. But when the measure, I get a real cheap month.

Just make sure you have enough money laying around to pay for the estimate months. No biggie.

 

[Led Zeppelin]

Originally posted by: rh71
Zepplin, we had the same problem... really old single-sided windows and it's been a VERY cold winter. We bought $7 "plastic covers" from Walmart (in the home section) to cover all the windows and it's helped a great deal. We're replacing all windows before the next winter hits, but this was a cheap solution in the short run... even if they're not your windows to worry about, technically.

I don't use any electric heaters aside from the one out where the boiler is in the garage... I'll be turning that guy down soon, but we apparently haven't used that much power, so it's not a big worry anymore.

Thanks. I've been meaning to go to either Home Depot to see what they had to try and curtail the drafts coming in. Yes, it's been extremely cold in Connecticut too, I don't think it's reached 32°F in more than a week. I'm heading to Walmart tonight.

 

[Aquaman]

Originally posted by: Hoober

Originally posted by: Aquaman
do you have electircal heatting? That could put a real big dent in your bill.

Cheers,
Aquaman

I love gas.

I love gas also......... except in 2001 when the electrical & gas prices spiked

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[nord1899]

Originally posted by: LedZeppelin

Originally posted by: rh71
Zepplin, we had the same problem... really old single-sided windows and it's been a VERY cold winter. We bought $7 "plastic covers" from Walmart (in the home section) to cover all the windows and it's helped a great deal. We're replacing all windows before the next winter hits, but this was a cheap solution in the short run... even if they're not your windows to worry about, technically.

I don't use any electric heaters aside from the one out where the boiler is in the garage... I'll be turning that guy down soon, but we apparently haven't used that much power, so it's not a big worry anymore.

Thanks. I've been meaning to go to either Home Depot to see what they had to try and curtail the drafts coming in. Yes, it's been extremely cold in Connecticut too, I don't think it's reached 32°F in more than a week. I'm heading to Walmart tonight.

According to Newsday, Long Island and NYC haven't been above freezing for nearly 10 days. Not supposed to go over until at least Sunday if not longer.

 

[m2kewl]

yeah, NYC's been pretty cold. was at stonybrook last night and boy, it was freezing!!

 

[Led Zeppelin]

From what I've seen, it's supposed to get to maybe 40°F on Monday. Woooo hooooo, heatwave!!!!! God I can't wait for May so my electric bill can be down to $45.00 again. *sigh*

 

[Vic]

Damn... $0.12/KWH... that's like double what I pay.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Vic
Damn... $0.12/KWH... that's like double what I pay.

Around here, I think everything is double what you pay... except those 99cent stores and maybe (just maybe) gas for cars.

 

[Aquaman]

I pay $0.0577 per KWH in Cdn ($0.0375 US)

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Aquaman
I pay $0.0577 per KWH in Cdn ($0.0375 US)

Cheers,
Aquaman

W T F ?!?!?!? Our salaries better be that much of a difference in ratio.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: Vic
Damn... $0.12/KWH... that's like double what I pay.

Around here, I think everything is double what you pay... except those 99cent stores and maybe (just maybe) gas for cars.

Bah, I just filled up my car with premium at $1.67/gallon

edit: but I got 30.1 mpg on my last tank in my 98 Integra GSR

 

[Aquaman]

What do you do............ I'm an accountant & I make $55K+ a year from home (Icould make more if I worked at a traditional officee but working from home is more flexible).

Cheers,
Aquaman