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Old 04-05-2013, 11:26 PM
 
Location: Under the Redwoods
3,751 posts, read 7,631,788 times
Reputation: 6115

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Quote:
Originally Posted by kettlepot View Post
The key to lowering your utility bill in California is to make sure every appliance that can be run on natural gas, is run on natural gas: Gas heat; gas water heater; gas stove; gas dryer. Minimize your electrical use, and maximize your natural gas use. Gas is so much cheaper that in the winter you might be better off running the natural gas house furnace over wrapping yourself in an electric blanket.

The highest utility bill I ever had was $100 and that was during the electrical crisis of 2000 that was driven by market manipulation.
That is interesting because I have found the opposite to be true. Now, I have not gotten out last years bills and compared total use or the cost per unit at the time so there could be other factors involved, and actually there is, but it does not really factor in.
We have almost all gas appliances, all except the clothes dryer. There are 5 people in a 3 bedroom and we have central heat. Last year our gas bill was near scary so this year we opted for space heaters in the bedrooms. Our bills this year are averaging about $50 less. Now that 'other factor' is a discount applied because we used less gas than last year- however this did not come into play until 2 months later, our bill was lower even without the discount.
Now another possible factor why our gas use was high, it the heater is old, not ancient, it is just an old, but energy efficient at the time of purchase.
Anyway, bottom-line, we used much more electricity this year and less gas and had a lower bill even before the discount rolled around.
It does not matter to me what or why, just glad we could bring it down.
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Old 05-10-2013, 09:19 PM
 
1 posts, read 5,401 times
Reputation: 10
We are 9 people living in a house. Each of us pays 60$ Utilities per month. Included is Gas/Electricity/Water/Internet. That makes 540 per month. Isn't that a little much? I mean of course we all have computers ect but still. 540??? Please some comments
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Old 05-10-2013, 10:48 PM
 
Location: State of Transition
102,052 posts, read 106,836,948 times
Reputation: 115779
Quote:
Originally Posted by chinamen View Post
Two people are living in the home. Electricty is around $130-$150 and gas is around $30-$50 a month. We have pg&e. Was wondering, is this high for two people?

What is your average electricty/gas bill? I want to compare so I would not feel so bad about paying so much.
Not enough information. Does your electricity use include air conditioning? Switch to the new fluorescent lightbulbs, and see if it makes a difference.
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Old 05-10-2013, 10:50 PM
 
Location: State of Transition
102,052 posts, read 106,836,948 times
Reputation: 115779
Quote:
Originally Posted by ValentinaZell View Post
We are 9 people living in a house. Each of us pays 60$ Utilities per month. Included is Gas/Electricity/Water/Internet. That makes 540 per month. Isn't that a little much? I mean of course we all have computers ect but still. 540??? Please some comments
How big is the house? That doesn't sound like too much for 9 people. My parents used to pay $500/mo. back in the 90's, and they had a big house to heat, which they tended to overheat.
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Old 05-11-2013, 03:18 PM
 
Location: San Francisco
2,279 posts, read 4,723,247 times
Reputation: 4025
San Jose, 1 person. 1bedroom condo, 900 sq feet, with 11 foot ceilings. Also have floor to ceiling 'curtain windows' along 2 walls.

Average fall/spring is $35. Winter is $45 (I think because I'm home more). Summer averages around $65.
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Old 05-11-2013, 04:33 PM
 
Location: State of Transition
102,052 posts, read 106,836,948 times
Reputation: 115779
Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlKaMyst View Post
That is interesting because I have found the opposite to be true.
I agree. Gas seems to be expensive in CA. Gas is kind of pricey almost everywhere. NM produces natural gas, but even here, it's not cheap. The utility charges "market rates", so we don't get it cheaper than whoever we export it to.
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Old 05-11-2013, 07:12 PM
 
Location: Boulder Creek, CA
9,197 posts, read 16,764,910 times
Reputation: 6373
Quote:
Originally Posted by ValentinaZell View Post
We are 9 people living in a house. Each of us pays 60$ Utilities per month. Included is Gas/Electricity/Water/Internet. That makes 540 per month. Isn't that a little much? I mean of course we all have computers ect but still. 540??? Please some comments

The tier system PG&E bills you on is what boosts that bill up so high. You pay a certain amount per kWh up to a certain threshold, then more per kWh above that, until you've hit the third tier, which is a lot more per kWh than the previous two. Our bills are anywhere from $280-$600/mo., depending on season and how many people are living here (always going to be high, but additional bodies bumps up the bill disproportionately to added use).
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Old 10-29-2013, 05:16 PM
 
Location: Boulder Creek, CA
9,197 posts, read 16,764,910 times
Reputation: 6373
Uh-Oh...bad Vince, bad! No advertising for you!
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Old 10-29-2013, 05:47 PM
 
Location: Riverside Ca
22,146 posts, read 33,197,505 times
Reputation: 35433
Two people
Average 100 for electrical
Under 30 for gas
1700 sq ft two story
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Old 01-13-2015, 07:37 AM
 
1 posts, read 3,951 times
Reputation: 10
In a 3 bedroom duplex 5 people dont use a/c or heater no large draw electronics. I pay 600 a month for electric and 60 for pg&e, in Lodi, CA. Is that overcharging? Maybe a meter thats reading wrong?
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