Arghh! Utility bill!

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-09-2005
Arghh! Utility bill!
14
Thu, 01-26-2006 - 10:06pm
Hi,
Yikes, I just got our utilty bill -- gas and electric -- it has tripled!!!! $179.00
Unbelievable. We heat the house with wood!! We were warned that the utility bill would go up because of Katrina, but this is just awful. I really don't know what else to do -- I am always on the folks in the house to turn off lights -- and I'm washing everything with cold water. What do I do now? My husband thinks we should get everyone little headlamps to wear. I don't know. This is just an awful lot for me to pay. Dang.
Any suggestions????
Megan

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-09-2005
Fri, 01-27-2006 - 2:11pm
Hi,
I really appreciate your ideas. i actually love the cave idea -- even sounds romantic. . . I guess why I am so upset is, of course I had other places to put the extra $100.00 -- and I just hadn't planned on this bill. It is probably our water heater and gas dryer that are the culprits -- we don't heat our house with gas or electricity.
My friend thinks that there is some kind of programable thermostat that can be connected to any water heater (??) so it could be off from 11:00 pm to 6:00 a.m. I will have to find out if that is true or maybe it just comes with new water heaters. Ours is only about 5 years old, so I would rather not replace it. I have heard that the blankets on them are a help.
Thanks for all the ideas!
Megan
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-25-2006
Fri, 01-27-2006 - 3:37pm

<>

I would love to hear what you learn about this. I'm sure my programmable therm on my furnace is saving me a ton of money so I would love to hear about this too. Thanks!

Peg

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2006
Sat, 01-28-2006 - 11:54am
Timers are available for water heaters for about $40-90 (I checked the website for one of the 2 big home improvement stores). Timer/preset temp controls are in the range of $350 for water heaters. Our water heater was replaced by landlord about a year ago and I have been bugging fiance ever since to turn down thermastat..too hot. Might try and do it myself this weekend. Also, 14+ days without power due to Katrina and Wilma we figured out we only needed to put water heater on generator for 30 minutes around 9:30/10 pm and we had hot water for 2 showers in the a.m. so I've also asked him to find and install a timer on water heater we would only run it in the am for showers and again at dinner time for dishes and laundry. I think for the 2 of us we could get away with less than 2 hours a day on the water heater.

Proud sister of a Marine:

Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-09-2005
Sat, 01-28-2006 - 3:44pm
Hi,
Thanks for the info on the timers. My DH says he'll go to our Lowes or Home Depot and see what he can do. This may be the answer. (Or a lot of down clothing!)
Megan

Pages