electric bill driving me crazy --- and broke!

[Hannahs mom]

Last month a 10.00 electric surcharge was added to everyone's bill. There was a note saying that the electric company will evaluate the fuel something or other and will increase or decrease this charge every 3 months! UGH! Now, I just read that as of 10-1, rates are increasing 20%! I'm stressing because we just moved into a bigger house and I'm expecting the bill to be a little more anyways. Now we're looking at an increase in the base bill plus approx. 30.00 extra in fees a month.

I don't feel that I use a lot of electricity. I set the air to where it won't come on when we're not at home, set it on 80 or 82 when we're home, have the water heater turned down, hang clothes to dry, turn off the lights when we're not in the room etc. Short of unplugging everything when I leave (which really wouldn't be much) what else can I do? I'm running out of ideas.

[cottageliving]

these energy companies are pretty sneaky -- there are an increasing number of these 'mystery' charges each month...

It seems that you are pretty conservative with your energy usage already, so not much to add except: Can you unplug the microwave and toaster, etc when not in use?

Can you purchase a power strip and plug your electronics into it? TV, DVD, Stereo, lamps, etc. That way when you're finished using those items, you can turn off the power strip -- that is supposed to stop the 'phantom' electricity from going to the item.

I have a couple of power strips, but am going to get a couple more and see if it helps.

all the best to you -- I hope you can reduce your bill

[treeluva]

I just wanted to say I feel ya... its like everyone is trying to get blood from a rock.

[FrugalMomof3]

I hear ya! I am dreading the increase in electricity costs that are soon to come to our area.

[cheles2kids]

I hate to hear this. I'm afraid though that even though fuel prices are going down, we're all going to be seeing increases in our electricity bills, if we haven't already.
Doesn't make a whole lot of sense, does it?
I would soooo, soooo, soooo love to have solar panels installed for this very reason.

It sounds like your already doing a great job of being aware of your electricity usage.

But I thought of a couple other things:
If you haven't already, you could consider trying to replace all of your incandescent light bulbs with the compact flourescent ones.

Do you have a dishwasher? You could always turn off your "drying" feature.

Also look into recaulking around all of your windows before the winter weather sets in.
I would take a look at the weather stripping around your doors as well.

You might also consider how long your computer stays on each day.
If you normally start it up at 6:30 am., could you put off doing that for another hour or so?
Also at night, what time is it normally shut down? Could you move that back an hour or so?
I know computers and those game consoles can really suck the energy.

Also using your oven less would help. Or when you do have to use it, consider making more than one item at a time.
If you need to make cornbread, then throw a loaf of bread in there alongside it.
I use my crockpot ALOT for making dinner or the microwave for heating things up.

Maybe some of these will help you out a bit.

[Hannahs mom]

I'd thought about unplugging the power strips to the TV's, DVD's, but we'd have to reset all the channels, time feature each day. That is one thing that I am just tooo lazy to do. I don' t think that this would save a whole lot anyway.

I could unplug the microwave when it's not in use. It's the only thing in the kitchen I keep plugged up.

Cheles2kids - thanks for the ideas, they're all great - but I have to say that I already don't use the dishwasher drying feature, use a countertop convection oven, and our computer is a laptop - so it's only plugged up to charge the battery.

I have to say that I owe it to FV for all of the things I do to save on energy. Before finding this place, I thought I was doing all I could simply by turning the lights off when I left a room - boy was I wrong! I appreciate all the ideas!

[heartofmine]

We are in the same boat. They are adding so much for each customer for gas for reading the meters. Ours is $10.00 too. The further out you are the more they are charging. Plus then there is the 20% rate hike coming up. It stinks.

[Hannahs mom]

We got our first bill in the new to us house yesterday. It was 90.00 for 20 days, plus 7.?? for the extra fee, and then 25.00 for connection. Our bill was right at 125.00 after all that extra stuff. I was pleasantly surprised when I first looked at the amount, then I noticed that it was only for 20 days. Of course, next month we won't have a connection fee to pay - but I'm thinking that the other 10 days will equal up to about 25.00. I'm expecting a bill of about that much for next month, not including the 20 percent hike. That would add another 25.00 on my bill. We have an whole house attic fan and I plan to use that as much as possible. I've looked at the meter when we use this and it's barely turning. When the air is turned on - the meter seems to be running the Indy 500! I'm going to do my best to keep the electric as low as possible and I plan to continue checking the meter to see how different appliances affect it. DH thinks I'm CRAZY!!!!!!!! He said that he'd rather be comfy and pay the money. But, I'd rather use that money for other things!

[The Muse]

We just signed a contract for solar panels because of this very issue.

You're already doing good things, and have gotten good suggestions.

A few things I've done:

I've bought some "smart" power strips that are the equivilent of unplugging everything, without having to unplug it. Switched to CFLs. Use the toaster oven instead of the regular (gas) oven when I can and if using the gas oven, triple up on things to go in it. Installed a whole house fan that I can use instead of A/C the majority of the days. Wash clothes in cold during off peak times & line dry.

Good luck!

[indigo53]

I hate to say it, but the less we use the more their going to charge! Having a lamp on for 1 hour will cost $20 ten years from now. Their going to get their money one way or another. Price caps come off in 2010 in Pa. After that the sky is the limit! It stinks.

[Cricketlegs]

My bill for August--hot hot hot in Texas--was only $167. Could have knocked me over when I saw that it wasn't in the $200s. Auguast is the worst month so I managed to get through it.

Gas here(our heat is elecrtic powered gas or oppisite I never know but we pay the gas company for heat with our centarl heat and air) is reasonable so far. Mom is on a different company and pays alot more than we do so I am hoping it continues to be a good value in todays energy dollar madness.

[toile]

Thanks for the tips I can use them too!!!!!!

My July was $250 and my Aug was $250

I have my air at 78 then use fans all over the house.
I have Fl bulbs in every light.
I do pretty good except I have used the dryer a lot since school started Aug1st.

I can't wait for 2 months of no heat /no air . I love fall!
I do better $ in the winter because we can layer up.

[LeeCee]

In florida they actually want to raise the rates 30 percent! I don't know if they will okay it but that is unbelievable!! we already pay like twenty dollars extra every month between all their taxes they add on.Living in florida we have the air on most of the year unfortunately

[missmanny]

I am dreading getting my bill, we get ours quarterly and it is due to arrive any day now.

It is winter here and they have just approved a 12.5% rise in tarrifs so this one will be a doozy.

We don't use a lot of energy, no dryer/dishwasher and we have a gas hot water system but I know that with 12.5 % on top and using the heater over winter it is not a recipe for a low bill.