Question for SRP customers...

[jenn_jeffery]

For those of you who have SRP for your power company, how many of you have the time of use plan (higher rates 'on peak' and lower 'off peak')? We keep getting letters trying to get us to swap, but we weren't sure if it would save us any money or not with the fish tanks.

We have a 90, a 33 cube, a 12 JBJ nano (stock) and a 10 gal. We also have a 40B freshwater, and 5 reptiles three of which have halogen heat lamps on.

Just trying to find out if anyone still saves money with the power hogs that the reef tanks can be....

 

[newtanksmell]

We avoided it. I would think that the off peak would be great for someone working swing or nights.

THe problem or caveat seems to be that if you do inadvertantly use power during peak time, you will pay dearly.

I have heard a lot of people express concern over electric consumption. Frankly I never worried about it. Well, SRP got my attention last month with a three digit bill that started with a 4 ! Truly terrifying when you consider that our apartment is 1200 sq feet and only two people live here.

My prop system will go up when I return, and then I start on my new tank, so I'm skeered !

I have instantly developed a keen interest in power consumption ratings for all reef equipment. Imagine that !

 

[Pyrrhus]

My old 95 cost about $55 a month in the summer without accounting for the extra work the AC had to do.

As far as the time of use plan, I have never considered it, the pleasure that I get from my reef tanks far outweighs what it costs in electric and no discount on the electric is worth running my tank at night when I cannot see it.

 

[pc1blues]

I have been on the plan for several years. Really have not changed our life style significantly. Move to running things like the dishwasher, clothes washer and dryer to off peak hours. Average savings of about $10 to $15 dollars per month. Not a lot but what the heck its a couple of bucks each month. Dont know what the new fish tank is going to do. If the savings stop can just go back to the regular plan.

 

[Frizz]

I have been wondering the same thing myself. I do work nights but for some reason my husband ( who basically has nothing to do with the tank ) feels very strongly that I cannot run the lights at night without jepordising the health of the inhabitants. Anyone have any thoughts on this issue with facts to back it up either way? Really the tank is the only thing keeping us from trying that time of use plan right now.
We are running t-5s & a chiller.
Frizz

 

[rljlll]

I have been on the " Daylight SRP plan" over a year now and really like it. You have to adjust a little during the winter the peak is like 5am-9am and 5pm-9pm the rest the time is off peak. during the summer i believe its 8am-8pm and the rest is off peak. Saturday and Sunday are off peak and all major holidays are off peak. We save about $25 a month doing it this way i run light at night on my three tanks and we do laundry on weekends and run dishwasher at night before we go to bed. it does take a little adjusting but every little bit help especially with this money pit of a hobby.

My cousins live in the same appartments as my wife and i and they pay the same for SRP as we do almost to the dollar. They run normal SRP and we run Daylight plan and us offpeak as much as possible.

 

[aztbs]

In my old apartment with no tanks I did that plan. It worked out alright. Nowadays, we use the average monthly plan. They take your usage all year and average it so that your electric bill is identical all year long. That way you don't get the huge hit in the summer. We have a 1600sq ft house with a 180gal energy hog and our payment is $210 a month.

The tank would kill us on the peak hours 5pm-9pm, that is when I enjoy the tank the most (right when I get home from work and need to detox the stress)

 

[tmorey]

We live in a 3600 sq. ft. home with a pool and have been on the "Time of use" plan for years and it has always saved us money. The summer peak time is 1pm - 8pm and the cost is $.0488 / kWh off peak and $.1783 / kWh peak. We run the pool and sleep in peace at a nice 75 or 76 degrees. During the day we let the house rise to around 80 degrees. It saves us around $50 per month. I can't let the house get higher than that or the tank gets to warm. I'm not running a chiller at this point. Things may change a little with the tank situation since I'm currently going from a 72g to a 150g. But I'm pretty sure the time of use will still be the way to go, for us anyway.

The best way to check if it's right for you is to just call SRP and talk to a customer service person. They will go over your records and tell you which plan would save you the most money by looking at your history.

 

[corivus]

well... it works great for us because we work swing shift, and notice a drop of about $100 per month going on that plan I can't remember the correct times and all but I'll ask my g/f

 

[vanmle]

I use the time peak plan (from APS though). It saves me about $700 a year. I run my lights at night. I am home more at night, the A/C is run lower at night so it helps cool the tank and the electricity is a lot cheaper at night.

Well worth it for me.

 

[random_ryan]

I had time of use and my bill ended up being alot more than normal. so I told them to change me back. I would rather stick with the orignal plan.

 

[bajabum]

I run my lights when it is cool. As long as they have a day and night cycle. My days are only 4 hours long. Don't know the optimium night cycle, but I bet it is around 4 hours depending on bioload.

 

[BLUESMAN]

I just started the peak plan.....No idea if it will save me money. I run my lights/additional P/H's from 8pm to 4am. I have 26w "curly viewing lights" from 4pm to 8pm and 4am to 7am. Weekends I turn my lights on at 6pm. I'll let everyone know any savings and effects on tank in the future. Blue