The Dreaded Electricity Bill

[cathyslc]

I dreaded our January hydro bill. I still remember the shock last January when I opened the bill, and it was over $300.00 This past year, we have implemented ways to cut our electricity consumption. This years bill arrived, and I opened it slowly. It was only $185.00 Quite a difference from last year. We had cut our consumption from 3881 kw to 1904 kw for the same time period last year.

We never really paid much attention to our electric bills previously because we were too busy going to work. And, we had a steady paycheck coming in so there was always the money to pay the bills. But, now we have simplified our life. We run a small craft business and our income is limited. So, a $300.00 electricity bill was not welcomed, and it certainly captured our attention!

Here are some of the tips that we implemented which allowed us to reduced our electricity bill:


- our biggest expense is our electric heat. So at night we turned down our heat by 10 degrees. We put an extra blanket on our bad. Yes, it was cold when we got up in the morning, but it only takes a few minutes to warm up the house.

- We also use our wood stove to take the chill off in the morning and in the evening. (we practice safe burning in our stove and have the chimney cleaned twice a year)

- We switched our incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs.

- We installed motion lights outside. Rather than having our outside light on all night, the light now only comes on if there is motion around it.

- Rather than turning the oven on to bake just one thing, we bake more than one thing (a roast, our bread and a cake) Once done baking, we leave the oven door open to allow any heat to circulate in the house.

- We buy bigger roasts. Once cooked, we slice the roast and freeze dinner size portions. We reheat the portions in the microwave rather than in the oven. Microwaves take less energy to run than an oven. This not only saves us electricity it also saves us time!

- We consciously turn off the lights when we leave a room. Our parents have been saying this for years, and finally we now do it!

- We use our ceiling fans to help circulate the heat in the winter and in the summer to cool down the house

- We reset our dishwasher to eliminate the dry cycle. The dishes now drip dry.

- We wash all of our dark clothes in cold water

- At night, we close our curtains, allowing the curtains to insulate against any cold air from the window. And during the day, we open all our curtains to allow the heat of the sun, however limited, to heat the rooms.

- While we still use our clothes dryer in Jan, we set it to dry for only 20 - 30 minutes. The clothes dry fine. Previously the setting on our dryer was for one hour! In the summer time we use our clothes line!

- We open and shut the fridge - sounds stupid, but standing at the fridge trying to decide what to get, uses electricity! The cold air from the fridge escapes making the fridge work harder and making our electric bill higher!

- We fixed the one leaky tap in our bathroom, so no longer does our hot water drip away causing our electric water heater to run more often.

- We also do not take long showers, we get in, we wash, we get out.

- We no longer let our hot water run. We fill up the sink rather than just run the hot water.

- Even a small thing like unplugging our coffee machine when we are done saves us money as there is a clock on our coffee machine and the clock takes electricity to run. We have a clock on our microwave and on our stove, so we do not need another clock in our kitchen!

- When we are not using our computer, we turn it off, including the monitor!

All of these things may seem small, but the savings do add up! And, in addition, we are helping the environment by reducing our electricity consumption!

[Tightwad Kitty]

Good for you, I hope that you can keep too this goal of using less. I always add 10% on the my bills when I do my budget, if I buy a new appliance then I workout what the extra cost might be. e.g. My new refrigerator cost extra $20 per year on the bill when I keep to old one too!

I can keep my bill to average of within $10 the same amount each quarter. around 1000kWh power and < 300 kWh for hot water which is a different tariff. single household in sub-tropics.

[MyMoneyForest]

Well, good luck w/ your reduction techniques. I bet that $300 bill was about enough to give you a heart attack! I've personally never paid more than $50 per month for electricity. And it was at the high end because I left my computer on a lot. Now I turn it off more. Good tips.

[cicy33]

Originally Posted by MyMoneyForest

Well, good luck w/ your reduction techniques. I bet that $300 bill was about enough to give you a heart attack! I've personally never paid more than $50 per month for electricity. And it was at the high end because I left my computer on a lot. Now I turn it off more. Good tips.

I cannot imagine having a light bill of $50! I would pass out from shock. I am usually pretty happy if it is around 150. We have an approx 1400 sq ft house currently, with central heat and air, at least 2 tvs on most of the time, computer on 24/7, I do try to make sure all lights are off except room we are in. We keep the heat down to 70 during the day and turn way down when we leave. I will not freeze to save $10. the air is a different story. The only time I really need a lot of cool air is at night. I cannot sleep if I am hot. I will wake up all night. So we usually turn it down to 70 at night and that will usually hold most of the day if we aren't at home. till about 12 if we are. we have a ceiling fan in the living room and kitchen that are run pretty frequently. I cannot stand still air.

[coffeebreak]

You can get a thermostat that turns the temperature up and down for you at times you choose. Turning the temp down a couple of degrees during the day will save quite a bit. Some here have suggested turning off the water heater until 20 minutes before a shower. Shutting it off at night and then back on in the morning would save also. You might be able to find something that does it automatically.

My electric company lets me average my bill out over the year so every month is the same. They also have a plan that charges different amounts during the day. You pick the plan that works best for you. It wouldn't work for me but it might for you. Check with your company.

Here's what mine says:
http://www.portlandgeneral.com/home/...se/default.asp

You can get foam plates that go in the electrical outlets to block cold air from the outside.

Heat is lost through windows so cover them with plastic during the cold months. Also, increasing the thickness of insulation in the roof/attic will help.

[pennywise]

Well, if you would go into shock for a $50 electric bill, how would you like $28. My electric bill IS NEVER over $28 a month. We do not leave things plugged in. When not in use, unplug. We do not watch a lot of TV either. Swear to GOD, never over $28 a month. I run my home very frugally and we live a comfortable life.

Sorry, I could not resist the urge to shock you more. Happy savings.

[rebelchai]

Originally Posted by pennywise

Well, if you would go into shock for a $50 electric bill, how would you like $28. My electric bill IS NEVER over $28 a month. We do not leave things plugged in. When not in use, unplug. We do not watch a lot of TV either. Swear to GOD, never over $28 a month. I run my home very frugally and we live a comfortable life.

Sorry, I could not resist the urge to shock you more. Happy savings.

What kind of climate do you live in? What's the cubic feet that you heat/cool? Do you use any alternative methods of fuel other than electricity? How many people in your household?

Example: Household of three in Maine. We keep 5,040 cubic feet at about 65 degrees during the day in the winter (55 at night). We use wood and oil to heat (the oil furnace does require electricity). We have an electric water heater, washing machine (cold water only), oven/range, fridge, chest freezer, TV & DVD player on 3 hours a day, and use compact flourescent bulbs. Three loads of wash a week & we line dry our clothing, but bake all of our breads and cereals. Our winter month bills are $70-90 depending on temperatures, spring/fall $50, summer $30.

Biggest problem: the house needs new insulation. I can't stress enough what a great investment good insulation is.

[pennywise]

i don't know cubic feet, but we have 1800 square feet. I am in Michigan. the house is heated with gas, bill this year with my cuts 250 for two of the months. The electric is never over 28 per month. Daughter watches tv about 2-3 hours a day. I am on computer alot. Laundry is once a week, about 3-4 loads and we line dry. cold water only. I think the key is to unplug everything when not in use. I started many years ago and when i walked around my house it was amazing how many electric clocks there are, i unplugged them all. the stove clock is good and the rest are now battery (have lasted a long time). we read at night, but use lower watt bulbs. happy hunting for savings, you are using a lot of electric appliances.

[rebelchai]

Originally Posted by pennywise

i don't know cubic feet, but we have 1800 square feet. I am in Michigan. the house is heated with gas, bill this year with my cuts 250 for two of the months. The electric is never over 28 per month. Daughter watches tv about 2-3 hours a day. I am on computer alot. Laundry is once a week, about 3-4 loads and we line dry. cold water only. I think the key is to unplug everything when not in use. I started many years ago and when i walked around my house it was amazing how many electric clocks there are, i unplugged them all. the stove clock is good and the rest are now battery (have lasted a long time). we read at night, but use lower watt bulbs. happy hunting for savings, you are using a lot of electric appliances.

I see that certainly part of the difference is that your household uses gas. We don't. Our oil heat averaged out for the six months we use it is $50 per month. I suppose, if I were to calculate the electricity and oil heat as "my cut", I (paying for myself and half my son) pay $150/year for oil heat, $0 for wood heat, and $370/year on electricity. Jeez. That comes to a blistering $520. Not paying just "my cut", but the whole house comes to $1040.

If you paid $125/month for 6 months ($750) in the heating season, and only $25/month year round on your electric ($300), all just your cut, you're paying $1050/year.

I really don't see how our using electric appliances is damaging our budget.

I am considering getting heavier curtains and trying opening and closing them more. Some day, we ARE going to get the insulation redone.

good hunting!

[pennywise]

you are asking very good questions and this is how we learn, from each other. See, the name of the game is NOT how much can I spend, but how much can I keep. That is the challenge. My water heater is gas. Gas has always been cheaper than electric until recently. Again we are using cold water for everything with one shower per person per week and daily wash ups in the sink (my dad did that; I forgot until now - you know those depression grandparents and their children!). Oh, on that, talk to elders all you can and learn how they survived in the depression. I have always worked with the elderly population! Next, I learned at 20 (I am 50). I was a welfare mom then and now I am what would be considered wealthy but I do not think so. I am still very very very frugal. I just changed phone companies for $11 a month savings (pennies add to dollars). The range/stove is gas but with the gas increase I went to Kmart and bought a "hot plate" and cook on that or use the microwave, crock pot, etc. These are much cheaper ways of cooking. Please stop to think about your cooking habits. Cooking can be very expensive, but if you analyze it you will be able to cut. Steamed veggies in the micro takes one minute (put water in bowl with veggies and put a lid on it). The fridge and freezer are plugged in all the time; however, last summer I vacuumed under the coils. I pulled it out and did a good under cleaning. The fridge last summer was running too much and after that it decreased a bit. I swear the key is unplug the radio, etc when not in use. I started that after reading an article in the Wall Street JOurnal "Phantom electricty". While things are plugged in they are pulling energy. Must be true because I swear my bill is never over $28 per month. The microwave; put these things on an extension cord that makes it easier to plug and unplug. This is my families habit now. I have a spouse and 10 year old daughter and two cats. We are in Michigan. I am a daytrader so I was eons ahead of all the rest on the economy - read, read, read- read financial stuff too. educate yourself. I save more money on my spouses salary alone than when I work, I look for savings and I do save. Right now, stay out of the stores, when you go, go with cash - AND the name of the game is how much of the cash can you take home and put in the cookie jar - this is how grandma did it. Okay, I really hope this helps you. You can be very comfortable and still save alot of money. REad, read, and read. Go to your local library and scan the books on saving to; this is where I learned alot. Learn how a bank works, learn formulas for CDs and loans and put them on your computer. Once you see how the interest is adding up you will not borrow. Do not buy unless you can pay for it. Good luck and continue with the questions. I am so very happy to teach others. Remember the key is: PENNIES ADD TO DOLLARS SO YOU WANT TO SAVE PENNIES WHEREVER YOU CAN. Oh, and I fought my spouse for years and I won, he NOW gets it and supports me - remember some of you my complaints last summer. He is on board now. Fight your spouse if you have too, threaten divorce or whatever you have to, the spending has to stop. Bless you.

[rebelchai]

It doesn't look like switching to gas would save money. It looks like I would pay a very similar amount of money out to the gas company AND the electric company.

For the most part the advice of only buying what you can pay for is solid. We only go to the store once a week and pay with cash. The bit that troubles me is that, for example, my husband and I pay more for car insurance because we have never taken a loan on a car. In order to have good credit, you need to have debt. As long as you're sure you will NEVER EVER need a loan for anything and you can pay for a house out of your bank account. Go for it.

Thank you very much for the "Phantom Electricity" WSJ reference. I will look it up.

[rebelchai]

Phantom Energy Article:

http://www.statejournal.com/story.cf...y&storyid=5310

Thanks for the tip, Pennywise!

[pennywise]

on the credit: credit must be used wisely. Here you go to the grocery store with your $100 and at the check out you use the credit card. Put the cash in the bank for the payment on the credit card. You must be very disciplined. Okay? Credit is something that should be established, so one credit card that is used, and only one. I think the trade off on the electric and gas comes in the summer months. We use a fan, not air. Air only with very high temps. So the savings come April through Oct because you are not using the gas, did you figure that in?

[rebelchai]

Originally Posted by pennywise

on the credit: credit must be used wisely. Here you go to the grocery store with your $100 and at the check out you use the credit card. Put the cash in the bank for the payment on the credit card. You must be very disciplined. Okay? Credit is something that should be established, so one credit card that is used, and only one. I think the trade off on the electric and gas comes in the summer months. We use a fan, not air. Air only with very high temps. So the savings come April through Oct because you are not using the gas, did you figure that in?

Yes, I did figure that in. Actually, the figure I came up with for you was based on not using gas at all for 6 months out of the year

($125 x 6= $750) gas
($25 x 12 = $300)electric
$1050 total

This is NOT including the gas used the other six months out of the year for an oven/range and water heater. But, the $125/month may have been a high average because it was from the "coldest" months.

We don't have air conditioning. I agree with you, that for the most part, using a fan is adequate. We open the windows at night and shut them a bit after dawn.

We use our credit card for online purchases and pay it off within the month. It works well for us.

$100 at the grocery store!!! Not unless we're buying bulk for a few weeks. We spend $40 or less on everything we need for a week including diapers. Yes, we splurge on diapers. The key for us is to really stick to the list. I make up a meal plan for the week, and then create a grocery list based on that, plus any staples we're running low on. I am in and out of the store in less than 20 minutes. I do miss some bargains this way, but I feel confident that not browsing has saved us money in the long run.

We do use more hot water because my husband helps out on his parents' dairy farm every night mucking out. He works in retail during the day, so he showers every day. Apparently not everyone appreciates my "farm fresh" smelling hubby.

[pennywise]

Okay guys and gals the contest is on: my electric bill this month: <$27 and the gas <$175. That sure does beat you with the $300. I'll stick with my gas/electric combo. Next year the challenge will be to decrease from this year. One solution was heat at 60 and wear more clothes, cold water use, the mild winter (no temps less than 10 this year), use of candles that were given as gifts (always be safe, please please please). Yes, we were cold, but short term sacrifices for a long-term gain, DH in law school and me with my MSN (master in nursing - nurse practitioner). Oh, we will move to Oregon so I can have my own clinic. Any Oregoner's out there? NOw, who can beat me that is not in a small apartment, lives in a cold winter climate (our house 1800 square feet)?

[Ima saver]

Well Penny, I can't beat you, but I do some of the things you do. My heat is set at 60 and the hot water heater is off except when we take showers or run the dish washer.
My electric bill was 108 this month and I heat the house with gas, but it is propane, so I don't get a gas bill. I have used $800 worth of gas this winter.
Although I live in Ga., it is in the mountains, and our weather temps. are under freezing most days.
Now my house is bigger, 3200 sq. feet plus we heat an extra two car garage with bathroom and efficenty apartment upstairs. I am home all day. I do have a full size ice maker that runs all the time, plus normal appliances. Also, we have to run a fan all night because my husband has a bad ringing in his ear.
You are doing great!! I will keep trying, hadn't thought about the candles!(but I would have to buy them, we do use them to eat by on sunday nights)

[Thrifty Ray]

I was shocked when we first moved to Oregon that most homes were ALL ELECTRIC...I was used to gas/electric in California...Our electric bills were very high when all the kids were here...but now that Im home and I can keep an eye on lights, etc....our bill is way lower.

Our bill includes our home (tri-level 2000 sq ft) and my parents home (park model RV) and this month it was $124...last month it was only $98. Of course, it helps that we only heat with our wood stove.

[rebelchai]

Originally Posted by pennywise

Okay guys and gals the contest is on: my electric bill this month: <$27 and the gas <$175. That sure does beat you with the $300. I'll stick with my gas/electric combo. Next year the challenge will be to decrease from this year. One solution was heat at 60 and wear more clothes, cold water use, the mild winter (no temps less than 10 this year), use of candles that were given as gifts (always be safe, please please please). Yes, we were cold, but short term sacrifices for a long-term gain, DH in law school and me with my MSN (master in nursing - nurse practitioner). Oh, we will move to Oregon so I can have my own clinic. Any Oregoner's out there? NOw, who can beat me that is not in a small apartment, lives in a cold winter climate (our house 1800 square feet)?

That $300 dollars is for the YEAR, not one month.

We paid $75 for electricity. No oil bill until October. Just for budget's sake, though, I'll divide up the oil bill by 12 and add that portion, too. $75 + $25 = $100. See you in a month.

Congrats on your education. Oh, and just because I'm a SAHM doesn't mean I don't have letters after my name. Very clever of you to work that in to your post.

[Ima saver]

I enjoy hearing what people do for a living. In my last job, I was a waitress and made $2.01 an hour in an area where local people do not know they are supposed to leave a tip. Many days I worked all day for less than $20 a day.

[rebelchai]

Originally Posted by Ima saver

I enjoy hearing what people do for a living. In my last job, I was a waitress and made $2.01 an hour in an area where local people do not know they are supposed to leave a tip. Many days I worked all day for less than $20 a day.

I like hearing what people do for a living generally. I don't like it when people use their age and education as leverage.

I used to work in food service as well, busing tables, but I was paid more, and it was temporary. People in my area know about tipping, but some people don't do it because they think the wages should be enough. My father-in-law refuses to tip, he says it's his way of boycotting the way they pay waitresses. I think it's just an excuse of his to be cheap (not frugal, cheap). Thankfully, he rarely dines out.