YAY - Electric Bill is coming down

**DonnainME** · 06-28-2008, 06:54 PM

OK - first the story. We (me and dh - more me) bought this house from his parents last May (over a year ago). They just moved out the end of this May. The power and phone bills are still in their name. The bill they got in April was $204 - that's with them here but us trying to lower the bill. May bill was $176 with us still trying to lower bill - they were here for 2 weeks on that bill. June bill (just got it) - they haven't been here at all that month and it's $152.

YAY. I had started turning things off and unplugging things. It's working. Also since June 1, I have had my 2 younger children here from TN (they live with their dad) and sometimes they leave their lights on and stuff like that. I'm thinking we might be able to get the next bill down to maybe $120 or so. I'm gonna try. I'm psyched over this. I wasn't sure if unplugging was going to work but it is.

All the kids go to TN on Tuesday - July 1. Until Aug 5 it will be only Dh and I. My oldest (the one that lives with me full time) will be back then. I'm hoping the bill I get in July (near the end of the month) will be LOW LOW LOW.

sorry for such a long post but I wanted to tell people that unplugging works.

**Darlene** · 06-28-2008, 07:40 PM

It really makes it fun, making a game of it... How low can you go? Hope you are pleasantly surprised & congrats on the good work.

**Michelle68** · 06-28-2008, 09:22 PM

That's great, way to go!

--Michelle

**DonnainME** · 06-29-2008, 09:25 AM

Thanks guys. I am going to try to get it down LOW. I'm gonna dance a jig if it gets to $100 or under. I know it won't be in the winter. We have a wood stove that has electric blowers on it so that will have the electricity go up but hopefully not too much.

**MLSMOM** · 06-29-2008, 09:42 AM

Great job.

**Iansmommy** · 06-29-2008, 10:00 AM

That's awesome.

I just got our electric bill last week. We are on the budget program where they average your bill through the year so you can pay the same amount every month. Last year our budget amount was $95.00 mo. and this year it is $87.00 mo. I was so excited. I mean it's only $8.00 a month, but it just feels good to see conserving and turning things off pay off.

**$hirley$aves~$$** · 06-29-2008, 09:34 PM

Originally Posted by DonnainME

OK - first the story. We (me and dh - more me) bought this house from his parents last May (over a year ago). They just moved out the end of this May. The power and phone bills are still in their name. The bill they got in April was $204 - that's with them here but us trying to lower the bill. May bill was $176 with us still trying to lower bill - they were here for 2 weeks on that bill. June bill (just got it) - they haven't been here at all that month and it's $152.

YAY. I had started turning things off and unplugging things. It's working. Also since June 1, I have had my 2 younger children here from TN (they live with their dad) and sometimes they leave their lights on and stuff like that. I'm thinking we might be able to get the next bill down to maybe $120 or so. I'm gonna try. I'm psyched over this. I wasn't sure if unplugging was going to work but it is.

All the kids go to TN on Tuesday - July 1. Until Aug 5 it will be only Dh and I. My oldest (the one that lives with me full time) will be back then. I'm hoping the bill I get in July (near the end of the month) will be LOW LOW LOW.

sorry for such a long post but I wanted to tell people that unplugging works.

That's great Donna! Hey, I read something about the gas/oil heating prices in Maine, were going to be extrememly high this year. Have you read that?

**yankeegal** · 06-30-2008, 09:53 AM

That is great about your electric bill!

Shirley-I live in Maine as well and I just had my oil tank filled-I only needed 1/2 a tank but the price was $4.59 a gallon, so $659 for the fill-up! Incredible!!!

**Russ** · 06-30-2008, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by DonnainME

Thanks guys. I am going to try to get it down LOW. I'm gonna dance a jig if it gets to $100 or under. I know it won't be in the winter. We have a wood stove that has electric blowers on it so that will have the electricity go up but hopefully not too much.

I hope to be dancing next month as well. That is our goal, to get it under $100. This month it is $122. Last month it was $147.

Good luck!!

**banana** · 06-30-2008, 10:28 AM

That is really great!

**Dancing Lotus** · 06-30-2008, 11:12 AM

I would like to get mine below 100. It's normally about 145 but last month it was 115. I think unplugging the second fridge and turning the air off really did the trick. OF course it's too darn hot now and we have turned the air back on.

**DonnainME** · 06-30-2008, 04:26 PM

We did have to pull down the AC and put it in the living room. It's just been too hot. We did block off the room so the AC will stay in there. We won't have it on at night. I just need it for the afternoon. Maybe from noon until 8 or so. Right now it's on high because I need to cool down. I will turn it on low soon.

I hope it doesn't make the elec bill go up too much.

I'm just really hot and cranky right now. I'm also not looking forward to a 4 hour each way drive to take the kids to the airport to go to their dads. They have all been here for a month and they all go back and then dd1 comes back on August 5.

**luvnspnful** · 06-30-2008, 10:59 PM

As much as I try to conserve, and cut down the expenses, the utility companies defeat me.... sigh. Starting tomorrow, our gas costs are going up another 17%. I jumped for joy when my last bill for the month of may-june was only $106. With the heat off, and hanging all laundry on the line (gas dryer...ugh). Just got my electric bill (2 months worth), and it is $112. I turn off everything every morning, and only have lights on in the room I'm using, but it's still ridiculously expensive. My gas bill for Feb was $217. I'm still quaking over that one. The worst part is that we were cold the whole month....My landlord is promising to update the appliances, gut the kitchen, and install new windows because I threatened to move if he did'nt find a way to help me save some money on heat. He has 4 months to show me some love D

I have the AC blasting right now because we are in the middle of a heat wave, but I can suck that cost up for comforts sake. I'd rather be freezing in winter, than roasting like a chicken..hehe

**Laura2** · 07-03-2008, 01:19 AM

Great job on lowering your electric bill. We too have been unplugging all appliances when not in use and it has made a big difference in our bill. We also canceled cable so we don't use the tv except for movies anymore. When we did have cable, the tv always ended up being on almost every minute we were home

**DonnainME** · 07-04-2008, 07:00 PM

We have lowered our Directv plan also. Canceling Net-flix in a few days (just before renewal).

We also have talked to the telephone company and are going to be getting a discount because we get aid from the state. The phone co will give us a $13.50 discount on our phone service.