How many kwh will I use? (Howe: apartments, appliances, credit)

[kgus22]

So I am moving to the area in about a month. This whole choosing a power company thing is new to me. The place I like in now is much bigger than the place I will be moving to so I have no idea how to estimate how many kwh I will use per month. Any way to help?

I'm moving into a ~900 sq ft apartment. Only one or two walls will be exterior walls, with other apartments on the other sides. I will be gone during the day M-F to go to work. I won't keep my apartment very cold, probably around 76 degrees, maybe up to 78 when I'm not home. I will have 1-2 TV's, standard kitchen appliances.

Any help on estimating? Thanks!

[nissan]

You'll likely be below 1000 kwh, probably 800-900 kwh. That's we avg overall in 850 sq ft apt. There are other threads on the same topic, fyi.

[aggierk]

1000 is good estimate for summer/winter months.

Speaking of plans...
I do not understand the additional cost if you do not meet minimum kwh on some plans.
It makes no sense that I pay less by spending more kwh. That gives incentive for spending more kwh.
Last month since I did not meet 1000kwh minimum so I had to pay more.

[nissan]

Infinite has competitive plans where it's the opposite, they'll give you $10 or so credit if you're under 1000 kwh. If you have history and know you generally don't go over 1000, their plan is good at 4.9c per kwh.

[kira kira]

Originally Posted by aggierk

1000 is good estimate for summer/winter months.

Speaking of plans...
I do not understand the additional cost if you do not meet minimum kwh on some plans.
It makes no sense that I pay less by spending more kwh. That gives incentive for spending more kwh.
Last month since I did not meet 1000kwh minimum so I had to pay more.

There are some plans that give you a credit when you use less power. I have Pennywise, and they give me a $40 credit each month when I use less than 1000 kwh. My bill was $19 last month. Best deal I have ever gotten since moving here.

[kgus22]

Hmm, good advice. I just really don't know how much I will use. Right now I'm in a 2 bedroom house with horrible insulation. He don't have a heater, our AC runs backwards in the winter. Anyways, I looked at our usage over the last year and it ranged from 1300-6000 kwh month (inefficient heat).

[mSooner]

We have a 2000 sq foot 3/2 with a lot of appliances and an electric heat pump for AC/Heat. For our April 20-May 20 statement, we only used 1073 kWh. And someone is home all day, every day--and we like to keep it cool. Granted, that is for a relatively nice weather month, but I think based on that, you should be able to stay under 1000 kWh. However, our heat pump system is only a year old.

[Lacajun76]

Generally, for an apartment <1000 sqft, you'll be below 1000 kW. It depends on the insulation and your usage. If you're gone during the day, then why not let it get to 85+ and just program your thermostat to start cooling your place 1.5-2 hrs before you get home? If you don't have programmable thermostat, its around $25, or get a wifi thermostat ($200+) and turn it on from work.

It is ironic that plans give a credit for using 1000+ kW, but, it is just marketing. It helps bring kW price down for comparison. If you use less, then, they make more money. If you use 2000+ , they make more money. The sweet spot is 1000-2000. There are some plans that don't give a credit for 1000+ kW. I have one with Green Mountain that charges me more when I go over 1000. So, I have incentives now to turn off my lights and keep it warmer. Before, I would run the AC all the time and leave the lights on just to get to 1000 kW.

[aggierk]

Originally Posted by Lacajun76

Before, I would run the AC all the time and leave the lights on just to get to 1000 kW.

My plan is like this now.
If I stay under 1000kwh I get charged $9.99 "service fee".
I knew that while signing contract but it makes no sense.
Basically I can use about 200kwh and pay no extra charges if I am at 800kwh.

[Johnhw2]

With high use in summer and much lower use in winter, I pick a plan with fairly flat rates over all use age ranges. The companies probably know how to game the prices to their benefit better than I to mine.