OMG! my electric bill doubled!
- Thread starter sharkdude
- Start date
cthetoy
Active member
I just called SCE to have a tech call me about the TOU plans. I ask the cust service lady about the rates and she said it was $0.70 (yes seventy) a kWh for peak and $0.11 for non peak. I asked her how much was the winter rates and she said it was the same. I hope she was mistaken from the pdf TOU rate chart posted on SCE's website. She said however that I will lose my A/C discount plan though.
If the rate chart for winter's rate is correct at 3 cents a kWh then my 1200 Kwh for the month will cost me $36.00
NicoleC
New member
Nicole...
How the heck could it be that low. I think my Hello Kitty nightlight costs more than that per month.
I don't remember a bill < $100 since the 80's.
SteveU
Well, my "big" nano (15g) has:
65w PC running 14 hours per day
7w Tunze powerhead
6w HOB filter
50w digital titanium heater that probably hasn't kicked on once
650VA backup battery drawing trickle current
(I have roughly 30x turnover in this tank.)
The baby tank has (10g) has:
5w HOB filter
50w analog titanium heater that probably hasn't kicked on once
15w CF light fixture running 14 hours per day
(Low flow tank)
The other nano was a stock JBJ nanocube plus 50w analog titanium heater and 14 hour light cycle.
I have gas furnace, gas stove and gas dryer. Electric hot water heater, but it's new and very well insulated so it only kicks on once about every 12 hours unless I use hot water. I wash clothes in cold -- makes them last longer -- unless they are smelly or visibly dirty.
I don't watch TV unless maybe I throw in a DVD, and I use a multi-switch to totally power off electronic equipment, transformers and chargers when not in use. My laptop is not plugged in unless it is charging. I turn the lights off when I leave the room.
This spring I installed a very efficient AC and insulated well ($650); the AC lives at about 79F. Last winter I installed high-efficiency low-E dual panes windows and insulted well ($1100). This summer I purchased double cell cellular blinds ($550) with an R4+ rating.
When the temp outside is cooler than inside, I open the windows to suck in cool air, and close up the house before leaving on hot days.
My nightlights are all luminescent (~0.3 watts), outside lights are solar. That's it. A few items stay plugged in like the microwave and clock radio.
When I was running the big tank, my usage was 150kwh less in June 2006 (in the heat!) than last year's mild June. June 2006 was about 600 kwh; July will be... 250?
Freed
It's what it's
Yes, you have to make sure several times you get the right info from them and make sure you know the numbers associated with the On Peak and also the Off Peak before you make any decisions. I called them several times to make sure they were giving me the right numbers and also spent plenty of time calculating what it would cost me. 2 cents per KWH Off Peak compared to the normal 7 cents made up my mind so now I have all my timers for lights, laundry, dishes and such to come on after 9PM. Massive savings. I'll use my electric heaters in the winter to heat mostly at night as well and use gas heat during the day. Should save me a bundle.
chainsaw5vent
New member
sorry. didn't get to the end of all posts.
i was doing some research and found this.
http://www.sce.com/NR/rdonlyres/18334F2B-068E-4FC8-BE70-03B3CAA7452F/0/547R0106TOUD1.pdf
and
http://www.sce.com/NR/rdonlyres/CB208237-4C88-4A39-85F0-110CA4B30D6B/0/RateScheduleTOUD2.pdf
you may want to move your lighting hours to later in the afternoon in order to save a few bucks.
Edison has a few different ways to spank you on the bill.
1. base line allocation and overages
2. 'who supplied the amount of energy to you' charges
3. the notorious time of day charges that balloon up during prime time 12 noon - 6 p.m.
if you have the bucks available, you may want to consider going solar with grid ties. you become your own power plant, and can "sell" (for a system credit from edison) the excess energy created during the daylight hours that you have minimum power usage at home back to edison for the same prices that they charge you:dance: :frog:
of course, you have to be willing to commit to investigating the solar route to see if it would work for you. the payback may not be quick, but if you have a mortgage on it you can deduct the mortgage interest and eventually become less dependant on edison.:wavehand: GOODBYE!
you don't have to build a 100% system to start, just something you keep your power usage out of the extra high tiers of cost. i am looking into it since my last bill was $714 and that is before the next increase that is coming.
http://www.solarhome.com/catalog.htm
look at this link for solar systems.
i was doing some research and found this.
http://www.sce.com/NR/rdonlyres/18334F2B-068E-4FC8-BE70-03B3CAA7452F/0/547R0106TOUD1.pdf
and
http://www.sce.com/NR/rdonlyres/CB208237-4C88-4A39-85F0-110CA4B30D6B/0/RateScheduleTOUD2.pdf
you may want to move your lighting hours to later in the afternoon in order to save a few bucks.
Edison has a few different ways to spank you on the bill.
1. base line allocation and overages
2. 'who supplied the amount of energy to you' charges
3. the notorious time of day charges that balloon up during prime time 12 noon - 6 p.m.
if you have the bucks available, you may want to consider going solar with grid ties. you become your own power plant, and can "sell" (for a system credit from edison) the excess energy created during the daylight hours that you have minimum power usage at home back to edison for the same prices that they charge you:dance: :frog:
of course, you have to be willing to commit to investigating the solar route to see if it would work for you. the payback may not be quick, but if you have a mortgage on it you can deduct the mortgage interest and eventually become less dependant on edison.:wavehand: GOODBYE!
you don't have to build a 100% system to start, just something you keep your power usage out of the extra high tiers of cost. i am looking into it since my last bill was $714 and that is before the next increase that is coming.
http://www.solarhome.com/catalog.htm
look at this link for solar systems.
laverda
Well-known member
Their second system seams to be a pretty good deal for the money. The summer special is a supper deal to. http://www.solarhome.com/themillennium.htm
I wonder what it would take to do a group buy and save a little more?
I wonder what it would take to do a group buy and save a little more?
chainsaw5vent
New member
ask for 'diane' at solar home. i had spoken to her previously about a massive system for work purposes and she stated because of the size that there could/would be another reduction in price. it may be possible for group purchase discount.:rollface:
ricka
New member
Hi Nicole,
These numbers seem a REALLY good deals. I can see installing a room AC unit for $650 but a whole house unit, The estimates we have are for 10x that amount.
Would you mind giving me the contractors contact info? We are about to upgrade our AC unit and I'd like to cash in on this.
Thanks,
--Rick
NicoleC
New member
It's a wall unit; a GE in-wall heat pump. 13,000 BTU, I think, which is not quite enough to cool my whole condo. I installed it myself; I had an existing wall mount so it wasn't too hard. I still haven't dressed the wall where I have plugged and insulated the extra space.
This winter I am going to get the Kill-A-Watt out and see if the heat pump in it uses more or less electricity than the blower on my ancient gas furnace.
For cellular blinds, I can highly recommend blinds.com. Exact same blinds, and half the price of Home Depot or Lowes. These blinds have made a huge difference -- I have a 4'x10' south-facing windows, which is murder in the afternoon. The blinds have fixed that!
I really want to get a ceiling fan installed in the living room, but every contractor flaked on me. I know it's not big job, but still. I can do the fan; I can't run the electrical. I would also like to insulate the attic and would love to hire a handyman for that job, too.
This winter I am going to get the Kill-A-Watt out and see if the heat pump in it uses more or less electricity than the blower on my ancient gas furnace.
For cellular blinds, I can highly recommend blinds.com. Exact same blinds, and half the price of Home Depot or Lowes. These blinds have made a huge difference -- I have a 4'x10' south-facing windows, which is murder in the afternoon. The blinds have fixed that!
I really want to get a ceiling fan installed in the living room, but every contractor flaked on me. I know it's not big job, but still. I can do the fan; I can't run the electrical. I would also like to insulate the attic and would love to hire a handyman for that job, too.
NicoleC
New member
SCE bill: $35.27! :dance: So I dropped even more than I thought; the nice weather has helped, I am sure.
That's with 3 nanos running, using exactly 300 kWh (avg 10.34/day). Last year I used 838 (avg 28.90/day).
I see baseline usage also changed slightly for a mix of 10.33 and 10.35 kWh per day baseline; I barely went over.
Next month will be 2 nanos and the month after that a mix of 1 and 2. I am not sure what else I could do to drive down usage without shutting down the lights and using candles... which is not really energy efficient, BTW!
:beer:
That's with 3 nanos running, using exactly 300 kWh (avg 10.34/day). Last year I used 838 (avg 28.90/day).
I see baseline usage also changed slightly for a mix of 10.33 and 10.35 kWh per day baseline; I barely went over.
Next month will be 2 nanos and the month after that a mix of 1 and 2. I am not sure what else I could do to drive down usage without shutting down the lights and using candles... which is not really energy efficient, BTW!
:beer:
badbones
Premium Member
If there is a group buy on solar systems LMK. I am planning on a 5Kwh system. The main thing right now is finding the proper financing since I don't want to do a refi or a sencond (have one already).
Steve I checked that link and pringing is pretty good. Not at all familiar with the equipment used though. I would alos like the 200wt panels instead of 165. Just lest space and option to add more later if needed (I sure hope not!!!).
LMK as I would like to do asap prior to the Nov price hike
Tony
Steve I checked that link and pringing is pretty good. Not at all familiar with the equipment used though. I would alos like the 200wt panels instead of 165. Just lest space and option to add more later if needed (I sure hope not!!!).
LMK as I would like to do asap prior to the Nov price hike
Tony
murphreef
Active member
um lets see
the main things i did were:
turn my computer off when not using .... went from being on 24 hours a day toprobably about 2a day.....
unscrewed 3 of the 4 porch lights since u really dont need that many to light ur entrance....
unplugged things that werent being used....
turned the AC from 78 to 80....
lowered the light on my tank from 8 hours of MH to 7 hours....
raised the temp on the chiller from 80 to 81
open the doors at night and put a box fan at the screen door to push cooler air in the house and turn off AC....
just made sure everything was off whenever i was outta the house....
luckily this month was cooler so im hopin it doesnt get so hot again .....
other then that thats all i really did and it seemed to help ....
went from using a lil over 2000KWH's last month to just around 1300KWH's this month
the main things i did were:
turn my computer off when not using .... went from being on 24 hours a day toprobably about 2a day.....
unscrewed 3 of the 4 porch lights since u really dont need that many to light ur entrance....
unplugged things that werent being used....
turned the AC from 78 to 80....
lowered the light on my tank from 8 hours of MH to 7 hours....
raised the temp on the chiller from 80 to 81
open the doors at night and put a box fan at the screen door to push cooler air in the house and turn off AC....
just made sure everything was off whenever i was outta the house....
luckily this month was cooler so im hopin it doesnt get so hot again .....
other then that thats all i really did and it seemed to help ....
went from using a lil over 2000KWH's last month to just around 1300KWH's this month
NicoleC
New member
Nice goin', Justin, that's a serious cut in power usage! The "little" stuff sure does add up. If I had to pick one major factor, it's probably turning off the AC at night and enjoying So Cal's cool nights au naturale, and also the computer. Most people don't realize what big power hogs desktop computers are. 400 or 500 watts, most of them.
laverda
Well-known member
You guys had my wife and I worried too. Ours went down $40.00! Thank goodness! We recently bought a bigger energy efficent refigetator, disconected the dorm frig in the garage, convinced wife to turn TV off when she is not in the room, unpluged most of the little power supplies for everything, swapped out our halogen light in the faimly room (now it is too dark in there, but it used a huge amoung of current) Looking for a better light to use.
sharkdude
New member
I know this is a loaded question dependent on many variables, but what is the shortest duration of lighting time you guys think you could get away with and still have healthy corals?
slow growth is ok, but health and color of importance.
I used to run my lights 10 hours a day, but I have gradually reduced and now I am running only 6 hrs per day. on my mian 120, I have dual 250w + 400w of vho actinic, and I also have been alternating only one 250 every other day.
I replaced several household lights with the lower wat flourescents, shut off cable box/tv and computer/modems/router at power strips. Also have decommisioned the garage kegorator, and minimal if at all running household ceiling fans, etc
thinking of investing in night vision goggles for the family soe we can walk around in the dark!
slow growth is ok, but health and color of importance.
I used to run my lights 10 hours a day, but I have gradually reduced and now I am running only 6 hrs per day. on my mian 120, I have dual 250w + 400w of vho actinic, and I also have been alternating only one 250 every other day.
I replaced several household lights with the lower wat flourescents, shut off cable box/tv and computer/modems/router at power strips. Also have decommisioned the garage kegorator, and minimal if at all running household ceiling fans, etc
thinking of investing in night vision goggles for the family soe we can walk around in the dark!
gcarroll
Active member
Chris,
This summer I have been running my lights for 5 hours per bulb. Growth has slowed but other than that everything is going well. Soon I will have the flow problems solved and everything will be back to normal.
2 inside bulbs on at 3pm, off at 8pm
2 outside bulbs on at 7pm, off at 12pm
I have no other supplemental light.
Colors browned out a bit at first but adapted to the decreased lighting after 6-8 weeks. When temps cool down in the fall and I increase light, the coral colors explode!
BTW, My electricity bill went down $150 last month. Adjusting the A/C helped big time. Last month we forgot to turn the upstairs A/C off during the day. Those weeks of temps over 100 did us in.
This summer I have been running my lights for 5 hours per bulb. Growth has slowed but other than that everything is going well. Soon I will have the flow problems solved and everything will be back to normal.
2 inside bulbs on at 3pm, off at 8pm
2 outside bulbs on at 7pm, off at 12pm
I have no other supplemental light.
Colors browned out a bit at first but adapted to the decreased lighting after 6-8 weeks. When temps cool down in the fall and I increase light, the coral colors explode!
BTW, My electricity bill went down $150 last month. Adjusting the A/C helped big time. Last month we forgot to turn the upstairs A/C off during the day. Those weeks of temps over 100 did us in.
