Spreadsheet for yearly gas and elec usage

[shoiji]

I am on the payment plan for my gas and electric. This past year I moved into a different apartment with the same complex. The footprint is the same however the waterheater was moved to the outside storage closet and a dishwasher was put in. At the end of the year I owed $75 more. This of course made me anxious so I made a spreadsheet for the past two years to see what went wrong.

Basically I found out I am using the same amount of utilities even with a dishwasher. I had to remind myself that no one was below or beside me during the winter months so I had no residual heat so my furnace was running more. Also I used more airconditioning to help get the dampness out this summer.

I will still be prudent about my usage but I am wondering if I should invest in a space heater since I think winters will be colder. But I have to say having the spreadsheet really helps to see usage for a year.

Thanks for listening.

[Contrary Housewife]

Is there an insulating blanket on your water heater? If the outside closet is cold in the winter, your tank is losing heat and you pay to have it constantly reheat your water.