I am determined to cut my power bill this next month. I THOUGHT I had been very good last month about turning off the air conditioner at night and not leaving lights on during the day, etc but our power bill was STILL over $200 - our summer average.

Electric company had some great suggestions for lowering usage - some things that I can try now, others that I cannot. I cannot really install new energy efficient windows or worry about the insulation right now. I CAN start swapping out regular light bulbs for low energy fluorescents, as the old ones burn out. We already have motion sensors install in most low use areas (laundry room, car port, master bath)

So, we're going to sweat it out. The AC must be the main consumer and turning it off at night is obviously not enough or my bill would have been lower.. I grew up in the south without AC, we survived.

And we will be not using the dishwasher. I will be handwashing. I am hoping that this helps the kitchen declutter as well.

OH, and the computers and printer and monitors (we have 2 puters) will be OFF most of the time. So, I am having to cut myself back on the Amity time. I will check my email every day, probably twice, but just cannot justify having the machine on tempting me all day long.

I'm watching the power meter and expect to see it slow down a bunch.

I love all you mama's here - wish us luck, and I'll report back if it works!

FWIW, Our local power companies suggest that we DO use the dishwasher. Its much more efficient with the water than doing it by hand. Just turn off the heat dry. They can air dry overnight.

Not just turn the computer off, unplug it. It makes a difference. And the TV.

Clean the coils on your refrigerator.

Make window snakes- 4 inch diameter tubes filled iwth rice, or sand. Place at edge of window.


Invest in a crockpot, and use it instead of the stove.

plants, or ice in front of a fan. both drop the temp.

styrofoam insulation behind your light switches. Weird, but true. Saves money.


And we just bought a house, and I have to start doing all this, and paying for it, too.

ari

Well, tomorrow is the moment of truth.
The guy came to read the meter this morning - I went right behind him and wrote down th numbers - compared to last month's statement - drum roll - we used 1000 kwhr less this month.

That was 1000 kwhr of pure SWEAT - it was hot here in GA. DH would turn on the ac for maybe an hour right before bed to cool it down a little so we could sleep. And we were using the dishwasher on air dry. We (mostly me) started getting vigilent about turning off lights, radios, computers, printer, etc and being conscious about not overdrying our clothes. (I want a clothesline :( ) But the ac was the big baddie

Sept is ALWAYS our worst month (we're talking $250+ power bills in Aug and Sept usually)

Then I looked up the rate schedule - so I'm not so surprized when the bill comes in... I was unaware of the way they calculate the bills - I suggest you look at yours too. The first 650 are charged at a reasonably low rate and the rest are charged at like twice that, but in the winter the rest are charged a rate LOWER than the base rate.

So, I'm expecting the bill to be under $100 which for us could be a record low not only for the season, but ever -we'll see, I half expect the bill to be wrong and have to call them and complain. (What if the meter guy bumped it up cause it seemed too low, yk?)

:cuc:

Definitely when you can replace your windows! They make a HUGE difference! Also, those energy lightbulbs have saved me about $30 a MONTH! Definitely a good investment.

Wow, good for you! :thumbsup:

ooo let us know when you get the bill! :thumbsup:

Well.... it was our lowest power usage in this house!!!!!!!!

The bill was higher than I expected and I called them, it seems there are two rates to consider - the cost of the power, which is priced depending on how much you use and varies by season, and then there is power recovery charge, which is like another 2cents per kwhr, a $20 difference than I had calculated. Why they can't figure that in to the rate, I don't know.

It wasn't our smallest bill ever becuase the summer rate is so much higher than the winter rate - but if we can keep this up, we will be in good shape.

**They are lobbying for a price increase. I wonder how many customers noticed the little message on the bill, and how many will say anything about it. It will only be "$5 increase for most customers" based on 1000 kwhr average use household.

hey...clotheslines -- get a drying rack.
we are hanging one load of laundry a week. well that's the goal anyhow.

Where I am, the power rates ae lower after a certain hour. Check yours. I only wash and dry clothes during the lower billed hours. I also only run my dishwasher once a day after 8 pm.

Here, that is only if you sign up for it. The normal meters don't keep up with the time of day usage. If you sign up for the program, they replace your meter with one that keeps track of the times. You have to pay for the meter, and the daytime usage is much higher than the normal rate while the nighttime rate is much lower.