electricity bill vent!

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-16-2004
electricity bill vent!
4
Tue, 08-23-2005 - 8:12pm

MY bill went to my neighbors house on accident (we have a dingy mailman). When my next door neighbor brought over my bill, she had opened it. No big deal, I had seen the price on line! My bill was $212.71. I asked her how much hers was and she said $236. I about died. They run their a/c nonstop. I nurse Logan at about 3:30 each morning and their air comes on at least 2x. I asked my friend across the street who keeps their house at 72-73 degrees. Guess what her bill was also $236.

This really makes me made as I have all new appliances (actually everyone does), I set my thermastat to 78 during the day. I turn off the air at night, and use ceiling fans to keep the house cool. We are careful with our lights, and we turn the computers off each night. Why am I sweating and they are freezing just to save $25.

I do know they base it on the last 2 years, and if you use more then you pay more for each kilowatt, but that is highway robbery. I should be rewarded for not using as much electricity instead of punished for having a life changing event (birth of Logan) that requires me to stay home. I HATE Southern California Edison.

OK so this was definetely more of a vent than anything else. Thanks for listening.

Nicola

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-20-2003
Tue, 08-23-2005 - 10:24pm
I think, but am not positive, that it takes more energy when you turn your a/c unit on and off than when you keep it on all the time. An electrician told me that - not sure if it's true or not but he said it takes so many more kilowatts for the a/c to do a "cold" start. Maybe you could try turning the thermostat up higher at night instead of turning the appliance off completely?
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-20-2004
Tue, 08-23-2005 - 10:39pm
Nicola,
We have central air, and our electric bill did not go up much the month we used it vs the month we didn't. Some electric companies will let you set up a plan so that consumption is cheaper during off-peak times...maybe you could ask? Anyhow, imho, it is just not worth it to be uncomfortable in your own home in order to save a few dollars. For me, not having ac contributed to my medical problems this summer...my doctor said so..we didn't get the ac installed until the end of July.
I feel your pain though...last January, our bill was $396....in part because they decided to install new windows in our place in the middle of a January blizzard!!!
Heather
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2004
Tue, 08-23-2005 - 10:40pm

I believe you're right about this. I heard this somewhere as well. My parents always told me, growing up, that it would make the air conditioner work harder to cool a house that had been sitting hot and humid all night, than if you just let it run during the day and raise up the thermostat at night when everyone is sleeping.

Pat

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-16-2004
Wed, 08-24-2005 - 12:24am

That might be right, but I turn the Ac on in the morning when I have all the windows open and I generally can cool the house off to 72 degrees (with the breeze and fans going). The air comes on once it hits 78 and keeps it there. So I am not letting the house heat up to 82 or so and then trying to cool it down. Does that make sense. I am actually also quite comfortable at night with the windows open and the fan on. Sometimes when I nurse in the middle of the night I have to put a blanket on my legs. I just hate paying so much for so little! But I think i may turn it down a couple of degrees during the day!

Nicola

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