I found out what is driving my electrical bill up
By sedel1027
@sedel1027 (17846)
Cupertino, California
August 23, 2008 3:48pm CST
..it is my husband!
Almost 2 weeks ago my husband started working again. In those two weeks I started putting the A/C up to 79 when DH leave for work around 8:30am; when I leave the house I set the A/C to 80. Now, I don't have errands and things to do every day, so the 80 is maybe a few hours a week. About an hour before he gets home (around 5:30pm) I have been dropping the temp down to 78 (he doesn't know and hasn't been complaining about the house being too hot) and an hour or so before bed time (11pm or so) I drop the temp down to 77.
Last month, he was home all month and we kept the temp at 77.
Last months bill: $234
This months bill: $193
The usage rate and the "fuel charge" rate stayed the same.
I can't wait to get the September bill to see how much money we save with him working for a whole month. Plus I will be working again soon which will have the A/C on 80 more days.
My husband always jokes that I am trying to get rid of him, to save $100 on my power bill I will definitely be pushing him out to door to work.
3 people like this
6 responses
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
23 Aug 08
Right now we are doing everything we can - minus running the A/C even less - to keep our bills down. When we moved into this place we knew our bill was going to be higher because: we get no shade, the sqft is much higher and we have a lot more windows. We were expecting more like $150 a month based on what the girl who rented us the place told us. She lives in the complex and has a 3 bedroom and - at the time - was paying $180/month and she likes things really cold and keeps her A/C on 75! I was shocked when we got our first months bill and for a partial month our bill was $190!
@ShellyB (5241)
• United States
24 Aug 08
I read sometime ago, but I can't remember where that one wastes more electricity turning on and off an electric bulb than say keeping one on all the time.
And on A/C if matters if one is going in and out of the house/appt all the time as well when the A/C is on.
It will be nice if you call your electric company, they can make mistakes too and if it is not on them at least give you tips on saving on electricity.
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
26 Aug 08
Last month I called the electric company and asked them to come out an re-read the meter and they said no!
Hmm, I have never heard that about bulbs but we use the CFL bulbs in almost all of our lights. I have heard that about the A/C. Even if we are both home, we usually don't go in and out of the house. My son - when he actually decides to socialize - sometimes will go in and out but he knows I don't' like him doing that.
@icyorchid (2564)
• United States
23 Aug 08
Well, at least your's went down, mine was jacked up by $60!! We didn't have the AC on most of the time, we use our ceiling fans and it still went up because of a stupid fuel charge and a $6 Hurricane Charge that I never heard of before! lol
Good Luck in getting the bill down more this month.
~Icy~
1 person likes this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
23 Aug 08
Icy, see what I responded to your discussion.I explained what all those charges are 
By turning off and on the A/C you actually use more energy than leaving it on all the time and just keeping the temp set high because it takes a lot of effort to get the house cool. Lets say you leave it off and the temp inside is 90. If you leave the A/C but set it at 80, it will run a bit but when you want the house cooled to like 78 the A/C will use a lot less energy to get to that temp.
By turning off and on the A/C you actually use more energy than leaving it on all the time and just keeping the temp set high because it takes a lot of effort to get the house cool. Lets say you leave it off and the temp inside is 90. If you leave the A/C but set it at 80, it will run a bit but when you want the house cooled to like 78 the A/C will use a lot less energy to get to that temp.1 person likes this
@o2bnocn (2992)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Yeah our electric has been really high before, we notice a change in the summer when my sisters are home. In the beginning of September they go back to school and only two people are going to be at the house so hopefully our electric bill will go down some. For one it is going to be easier for me to keep things off when only one other person is going to be here, at other times everyone keeps turning lights and televisions on.
1 person likes this
@EVILMAZDA (13)
• United States
24 Aug 08
well i can say from experience that lettint it run all the time does not use as much electricity and letting it cycle on and off. when they cycle on they actually pull a huge amount of amperage, for a 4 ton system it pulls at least 170 amps at start up. i know because i service all types of a/c. i leave mine at 73 all the time and my bill is no higher than 200 a month. but i also have a newer system. the age and the cleanliness of the system plays a big part in energy usage.
@tdw41259 (1)
• United States
8 Jan 09
The fuel surcharge is not only in Katrina areas. I live in a small town in southeast alabama and was not effected by Katrina , and have had the charge for at least 10 years. Last month our surcharge was $108.00 and electricty was $118.00.
I am trying to find out how this is leaga and if it isn't what can be done about it.
