Summer Utility Bills Anonymous.

[Fivetears]

Started this thread for anyone wishing to vent thier Summer electric bill.

San Antonio, Texas.
1582sf 2-story home.
1606 KWhs Used.
$5,35 per day average.
$171.11 for 32 days billed.
$89.34 last month for 1086 KHrs Used.
Increase in cost: 91% :eek:
This is starting to get into my beer drinking money. :worried:

[Birchtree]

I just had an R-30 blown in over my garage and an increase to R-38 or better blown over the rest of my conditioned space. My local electric utility is going to rebate me $0.11 per square foot of the conditioned space. So I actually paid $0.29 psf to have the extra insulation placed - it was a two hour job. This should help me some to contain my costs. I've also got some vegetables growing.

[Fivetears]

Yeah Dennis, I need to do that. My Master BR is directly over my garage. I'm betting their is little to NO insulation in the floor. It was nearly 100 today. The damn crows would have a field day if I had a vegetable garden.
I just had an R-30 blown in over my garage and an increase to R-38 or better blown over the rest of my conditioned space. My local electric utility is going to rebate me $0.11 per square foot of the conditioned space. So I actually paid $0.29 psf to have the extra insulation placed - it was a two hour job. This should help me some to contain my costs. I've also got some vegetables growing.

[Oldcoin]

I just had an R-30 blown in over my garage and an increase to R-38 or better blown over the rest of my conditioned space. My local electric utility is going to rebate me $0.11 per square foot of the conditioned space. So I actually paid $0.29 psf to have the extra insulation placed - it was a two hour job. This should help me some to contain my costs. I've also got some vegetables growing.

There are also some fed tax credits, (at lease they were on the books last year) check out form 5695.

[Rustynutt]

Texas rates sure beats So. Cal. My bill figures about 4 cent kw/hr more than yours, with actual monthly usage less than half (~420kw/hrs) for 32 billed days this period.
Looked at the bill, would have to hire an accountant to actually figure out all the additional and pro-rated charges. Monthly cost over a year was a low of about ~25 bucks to a high of ~127 during Aug. I run stuff 24 hours a day, but use evaporative coolers.

[Fivetears]

1606 KWhs; $171.11 for 32 days -vs- 420KWhs; $175.00 :eek:

Texas rates sure beats So. Cal. My bill figures about 4 cent kw/hr more than yours, with actual monthly usage less than half (~420kw/hrs) for 32 billed days this period.
Looked at the bill, would have to hire an accountant to actually figure out all the additional and pro-rated charges. Monthly cost over a year was a low of about ~25 bucks to a high of ~127 during Aug. I run stuff 24 hours a day, but use evaporative coolers.

[ChemEng]

1606 KWhs; $171.11 for 32 days -vs- 420KWhs; $175.00 :eek:Mine is even better-- 747 KWhs used; $86.81. I suppose there are some small perks to living in Kentucky. :D

[Rustynutt]

Mine is even better-- 747 KWhs used; $86.81. I suppose there are some small perks to living in Kentucky. :D


Did I do my math right? :) Lets see, add the 7 carry the two.

My rate is something like .12222. @ 747= $91.30
The summer rate has not kicked in yet here, will show up on July bill. Just looked at last year. Average of .24 cents per KWhs when you go over the baseline(s). I bring my Mikita into work to charge it during the summer :rolleyes:

Yup, Kentucky, Oregon, anywhere but here in a little over 4 years.

[Fivetears]

.1162c per KWh in Kentucky.
.1065c per KWh in SATX; were about the same. The bigger issue is the cost to control summer heat, and how many SF house you are trying to cool. Did your bill climb yet?
Mine is even better-- 747 KWhs used; $86.81. I suppose there are some small perks to living in Kentucky. :D
Texas rates sure beats So. Cal. My bill figures about 4 cent kw/hr more than yours, with actual monthly usage less than half (~420kw/hrs) for 32 billed days this period.
Looked at the bill, would have to hire an accountant to actually figure out all the additional and pro-rated charges. Monthly cost over a year was a low of about ~25 bucks to a high of ~127 during Aug. I run stuff 24 hours a day, but use evaporative coolers.


San Antonio, Texas.
1582sf 2-story home.
1606 KWhs Used.
$5,35 per day average.
$171.11 for 32 days billed.
$89.34 last month for 1086 KHrs Used.
Increase in cost: 91% :eek:

[ChemEng]

.1162c per KWh in Kentucky.
.1065c per KWh in SATX; were about the same. The bigger issue is the cost to control summer heat, and how many SF house you are trying to cool. Did your bill climb yet?My bill, based only on kWh's used, is only $54.84. The rate is $0.073410/kWh. Everything else is add-ons from school fees to environmental fees to my outdoor light.

But the house is 1500 sqft brick ranch with half dozen 30 year old trees throwing shade and blocking sun.

[Fivetears]

Sounds like you're set up and shaded well.

[poolman]

2152 K.Hours = $263.87

[XL-entLady]

My bill, based only on kWh's used, is only $54.84. The rate is $0.073410/kWh. Everything else is add-ons from school fees to environmental fees to my outdoor light.

But the house is 1500 sqft brick ranch with half dozen 30 year old trees throwing shade and blocking sun.

Well, I thought I had the best electrical rate going, but ChemEng, you've got me beat! It's the water, not the electricity, that's expensive here. My water bill is always as high as my electrical bill.

I pay $0.0795/kWh base rate for electricity. In the summer it still adds up, because our daytime high is usually over 100 degrees. But my last bill was only $59.01 base rate on our 1580 sqft stucco with tile roof because we have serious insulation.

Around here a little more money for insulation can mean a lot less money to the utility company!

Lady

[Rod]

North Carolina

2200 Sq Ft, 1 1/2 stories (Mostly vinyl, some brick- built 2005)
Only gas is fireplace
Dual a/c, heating units (downstairs/upstairs)

1112 kWh Used
$4.67 per day average.
$130.79 for 28 days billed (23 Apr-21 May) (Last prior bill was $141.14)

Breakdown:

Electric: $123.73
Street Light: $3.25
NC Sales Tax: $3.81

As you can see, we are rather conservative with a 2200 Sq Ft home. Besides outside lights for security, lights are only on as needed- and not on just to be "on". We keep the downstairs themostat around 74-75 year round.
Upstairs thermostat stays on 80 in the summer, and around 60 in the winter.

Our water bill averages between $55-$65 a month.

God Bless:)

[Show-me]

1200 KWH $120.18

9000 GAL $73.59

A/C on full bore and two teen boyz showering at least once a day. I'm going to have so much money when they move out. LOL

[ChemEng]

Our bill has also dropped since we switched to CFLs light bulbs throughout the house and installed a programmable thermostat. It doesn't help the rate, but it dropped our kWhs noticeably.

[Fivetears]

I lived in Goldsboro for 7 years in the late 80's; very hot & very humid in the summer. 1112KWh's used to comfort a 2200 SF Home is very, very good. It must be sealed up tighter than a ducks [eh] bottom feathers :)
North Carolina
2200 Sq Ft, 1 1/2 stories (Mostly vinyl, some brick- built 2005)
Only gas is fireplace
Dual a/c, heating units (downstairs/upstairs)
1112 kWh Used
$4.67 per day average.
$130.79 for 28 days billed (23 Apr-21 May) (Last prior bill was $141.14)

[Fivetears]

OH!! Water Bill!! Sore subject. I normally pump out an average of 900 - 1000cft per month. My wife went out back to fill our dogs "Kiddie Pool" last Saturday night at 9pm. Threw the hose in the pool, and threw the water valve lever full open. At 10am the next morning, I see a 3 foot wide stream of water flowing down the street. HAPPY FATHERS DAY! According to Bexar Met Water calculations, about 726 cft of water left my home. I'm gonna get a sweet water bill in July. :embarrest: :o :rolleyes:

[luv2read]

you know in most municipalities you can have a separate tap installed at minimal cost for "yard purposes". Here it costs $50 for the extra tap at the street and they'll even put in a faucet for you. We just run hoses from it to water everything for now, but the plan is to eventually put in a sprinkler system. Our water bill is WAY DOWN since doing this. Partly because the biggest part of our water bill was the SEWER cost, which is based on water usage going into the house and down the drain. Once we separated the water that was going on the grass, the sewer bill was cut by more than 1/2. Worth looking into.:)

[CountryBoy]

We have central AC for a 2500SF home. We had all new NRG efficient windows and siding put on 4 years ago and reduced our electric usage by almost 20%. In the winter, we heat with propane and wood burner insert and the replacement windows/siding will save about $1345 this winter, because we fill our 500gallon tank up 1 less time per winter and propane is going for $2.69 a gallon this winter. House was built in 1974, so the windows were pretty inefficient, but the guy didn’t chintz on the floor and attic insulation, but I have considered having some more blown into the ceiling.

KwHr used - 1153 $151.72 $0.13
Price Includes below
Fixed charge $16.00 $0.01
Distribution charge $47.61 $0.04
Security light $12.00 $0.01
Generation & Transmission $76.11 $0.07
TOTAL $151.72 $0.13

Our hottest mid summer bill runs about $250 per month.


Water runs about $35 per month, but we are on a septic system, which we have pumped out every 3 years and that add’s about $8 monthly.

CB

[Rod]

OH!! Water Bill!! Sore subject. I normally pump out an average of 900 - 1000cft per month. My wife went out back to fill our dogs "Kiddie Pool" last Saturday night at 9pm. Threw the hose in the pool, and threw the water valve lever full open. At 10am the next morning, I see a 3 foot wide stream of water flowing down the street. HAPPY FATHERS DAY! According to Bexar Met Water calculations, about 726 cft of water left my home. I'm gonna get a sweet water bill in July. :embarrest: :o :rolleyes:

Yeah, I feel your pain. A couple weekends ago, one of my backyard faucets failed (failed seal). It ran overnight until my Wife discovered it. It was a pain to replace because the contractor evidently rigged (soldered) it to fit into 1/2" PVC. I couldn't find a faucet to fit the PVC, so I had to canibalize inards off a new one to fix the old. It's holding up so far.

[Rod]

I lived in Goldsboro for 7 years in the late 80's; very hot & very humid in the summer. 1112KWh's used to comfort a 2200 SF Home is very, very good. It must be sealed up tighter than a ducks [eh] bottom feathers :)

We use ceiling fans year-round too- both summer/winter settings.

Remember- set ceiling fans counter-clockwise during the summer and clockwise during the winter.

[Rod]

you know in most municipalities you can have a separate tap installed at minimal cost for "yard purposes". Here it costs $50 for the extra tap at the street and they'll even put in a faucet for you. We just run hoses from it to water everything for now, but the plan is to eventually put in a sprinkler system. Our water bill is WAY DOWN since doing this. Partly because the biggest part of our water bill was the SEWER cost, which is based on water usage going into the house and down the drain. Once we separated the water that was going on the grass, the sewer bill was cut by more than 1/2. Worth looking into.:)

That's a very good point that we have been considering.

Thanx for the reminder.:)

[Fivetears]

Thanks big guy!!!! Man I forgot!! :D
We use ceiling fans year-round too- both summer/winter settings.

Remember- set ceiling fans counter-clockwise during the summer and clockwise during the winter.

[Fivetears]

I'll check L2R. Thanks. :)
you know in most municipalities you can have a separate tap installed at minimal cost for "yard purposes". Here it costs $50 for the extra tap at the street and they'll even put in a faucet for you. We just run hoses from it to water everything for now, but the plan is to eventually put in a sprinkler system. Our water bill is WAY DOWN since doing this. Partly because the biggest part of our water bill was the SEWER cost, which is based on water usage going into the house and down the drain. Once we separated the water that was going on the grass, the sewer bill was cut by more than 1/2. Worth looking into.:)