Lowest electric bill ever.

[EVuser]

So many great savings posts

We are for the most part having another PV friendly year. In an amazingly close billing history I have used $0.19 more so far this year over last. Presently a -$135.61 (credit) since March.

[waltermlee]

my electric bill for 2012 August was 330 kwh ( Clean current my wind turvine consolidator electricity provider charges 30.54 and my local utility fees and taxes is 26.87 so the total cost is $57.41). My electric bill for 2011 August was 440 kwh. My electric bill 2010 August was 470 kwh.
So my electric usage is going down...

Grumbling: My neighbor splatter deck stain on rear vinyl siding of my townhouse (as well as on my heat pump compressor) and has offer to replace part of my siding that was stained but I would have to pay for the siding that wasn't messed up if I want the color of the siding to match. The contractor that they brought in was quoting 1800 just to finish the entire rear side of my townhouse with regular vinyl siding. Its also another 1000 to do the front side too if I want that to match perfectly as well.... I'm thinking that for all that trouble of redoing the vinyl siding the maybe I should upgrade to R-3 or R-4 insulated vinyl siding? Still upgrading the vinyl siding is cheaper than redoing the windows and glass sliding doors.

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

EDIT: summary only. See later post for table

August 2012 (30 days to 9/7/2012) 514kWh compared to 742 kWh over 31 days in the previous year. .58kWh/day off annualized consumption! August was again pretty dry but it cooled off towards the end to help cut A/C use.

New 12 month average: 17.75kWh/d (3/2009 24.15kWh/d)
Constant W equivalent 739.7W (3/2009 1006.2W)
Reduction 26.48%! LEAF miles 16.93.
Advanced LEAF 1.52 miles! Reductions: sound machines, electric kettle, kitchen lights, freezer off, mostly using 7" tablet instead of laptop for browsing.

[ALS]

Can't wait for the October bill myself, where almost everything that can be has been done to cut my electricity bill at work. Over Labor day weekend I finished up installing the rest (6 Fixtures) of the T8's at work. I'm just sitting here waiting for my September bill which was the first full month of the LED exit sign lights and the main room with 12 fixtures of T8's. I was very pleased at the drop in my demand side of the bill with the first partial month.

What people don't really look at on their utility bills is not just the energy their using but the amount of taxes that are also tacked onto the bill. Cut your energy usage you're also cutting your utility taxes.

[vangonebuy]

What people don't really look at on their utility bills is not just the energy their using but the amount of taxes that are also tacked onto the bill. Cut your energy usage you're also cutting your utility taxes

Oh yes, we notice. I'm more shocked at the sneaky rate increases in Delivery charges.
They claim reductions on Natural gas burned.....Gas prices are way down. My bill is not!
Constant raises to the fee to deliver it to my home.
So the kwh rate will be higher and higher.
We are back up to $.21 a kwh.

My usage continued high for me. But this week the humidity dropped big.
Hoping it stays cool.
For people in my area that are not reducing consumption.
Their bills must be getting very high.


I also checked my August to Sept meter reading. Cannot post it.
I have no previous Aug - Sept comps to compare it to.
I only get 6 official meter reads a year. But its an education.


INATM: You really kicked butt. Congratulations.

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Originally Posted by ALS

What people don't really look at on their utility bills is not just the energy their using but the amount of taxes that are also tacked onto the bill. Cut your energy usage you're also cutting your utility taxes.

I've seen some people write about some weird taxes in other states. Maine is noted for relatively high taxes but as far as I know, it's very simply 5% sales tax for any use above 750kWh in a billing month. Likely no sales tax for our use this year thanks to savings.

Originally Posted by vangonebuy

Oh yes, we notice. I'm more shocked at the sneaky rate increases in Delivery charges.
They claim reductions on Natural gas burned.....Gas prices are way down. My bill is not!
Constant raises to the fee to deliver it to my home.
So the kwh rate will be higher and higher.
We are back up to $.21 a kwh.

Delivery fees are rising across the nation. There is a LOT of investment going into improving the infrastructure which makes the current low NG prices really helpful right now. Partly it's to deal with rising demand across the nation (investments that have been held back for years are finally being made) The other reason for the investment is to handle increased renewables, wind in the short term and likely more solar in the long term. (I believe the typical aim is for 20% non-hydro renewable). Although wind isn't at parity with NG or coal, good onshore wind isn't expensive and it's gradually getting cheaper, so the grid investments should result in some protection from any jump in NG prices (likely with increasing demand and gradual increases in export).

INATM: You really kicked butt. Congratulations.

Thanks. I hope I can keep reducing our consumption. I'd need a further drop of almost 1.5kWh/day (for the whole year, not just a month) to get the theoretical LEAF to work. It'll be a tall order, I think but I'll be interested to see how low we can go.

[PaleMelanesian]

I'll let the picture do the talking. It's pretty clear how good the new AC is (installed 9/2011). It's also clear just how hot summer 2011 was!

[ALS]

Duquesne Light will be doing a reading tomorrow and you have to love those smart meters.

Well looking at my possible bill coming in a few days I couldn't be much happier with my T12 to T8 light change over and the LED Exit sign retrofit.

Last year I averaged 77.2 KW per day or 2,240 KW for the month and this year I'm running 55.5 KW per day or 1,665KW for the month of September 10 - October 10th.

Dollar wise, a $277 bill in Oct 2011 vs an estimated $180 bill in Oct 2011, a 25% drop in power usage and a 35% decrease in costs.

BTW Pa. deregulated the electric and gas energy industry so we can pick our own suppliers. Thus if I had stayed with Duquesne light it would have been 12 cents per KW vs First Energy at 10.8 cents.

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

EDIT Summary only see later post for table.

September 2012 (32 days to 10/9/2012) 451kWh compared to 540 kWh over 29 days in the previous year. .38kWh/day off annualized consumption. September was cooler and wet and in early October the car windshield have had a couple of thin frosts.

New 12 month average: 17.37kWh/d (3/2009 24.15kWh/d)
Constant W equivalent 723.6W (3/2009 1006.2W)
Reduction 28.08%! LEAF miles 17.95.
Advances theoretical LEAF 1.02 miles. Reductions: electric kettle (10/24/11), kitchen lights (1/12), a sound machine (3/12), freezer off (3?/12), 7" instead of a laptop (8/12).

[vangonebuy]

I'm trending up. Not down. 18.7 daily kwh vs 16.7 kwh for Oct.
I set a simple goal 2 years ago. Use less than 1000kwh per two month period.
In 3 readings this year I'm over 1000kwh.
+ 107 kwh over last year total ytd. But only $22.50 ytd. total cost.


So its a humbling meter reading. But the lessons are well learned.
I know what caused it.
Basement dehumidifier. Needed.
A/C for my family over the humid summer. Needed
I wouldn't change our usage.

As for changes, There will be a few.
I've keep learning so much.
Return on investment on efficiency is great.

Recently replaced my water heater. 40 gal tank, much more efficient.
Looking into a new boiler.
Also more LED lights will come.

I maybe down, But I'm not out.