Average Summer Electric Bill Costs/ With A/C Running 24/7 ? (insurance, how much)

[expatChicagoan]

Originally Posted by twiggers

I couldn't imagine being in this heat and having the place at 78! Wow....that's really warm!! Sometimes the 72-75 gets a little chilly, but after being in 100 degree weather with humidity, it feels real good!

I think the lack of humidity in this part of Texas compared to other states is what makes 78 feel more comfortable. When I lived in Indiana and Chicago, I had to have the A/C set at 72, otherwise I was sweltering, because both of those places have higher humidity than here in FW.

My electric bills have been more expensive this summer than the previous 2 summers that I've been here. The past 2 bills were for around $250 a month (for a 2400 sf house with 2 a/c units).

[ROckjaw]

Just saw this thread and it piqued my interest - for July and Aug, my electric bills were.... gulp.... between $750 and $900 per month.... 10 yr old 6000sq ft house in NW FM with 20 ft ceilings on the 1st floor - 4 AC units and....3 kids under 8 and 3 dogs - meaning the exterior doors are left open, lights left on, big pool and waterfall is running all the time, outdoor kitchen pavilion fans/light/refrig are left on, etc and the wife needs the AC units set not over 72... whats a guy to do????

I have CoServ as my electric provider and am having them in for a house energy audit later this month.... I hear that the spray on radiant barrier is not worth the money and effort - short of replacing over 50 windows and pumping the walls and attic full of cellulose, what else can I do?

[expatChicagoan]

Originally Posted by ROckjaw

... and the wife needs the AC units set not over 72... whats a guy to do????

Have the wife pay the electric bill, or deal with higher temperatures.

A $900 bill sounds awfully high - I'd have a cow if I got a bill that large!

[Threestep2]

Very big hot tub, fountain, some heavy eaters like lead smelter, daily laundry,2750 sqf and DH keeps things at meat locker temp of 72F - $220 was our highest bill.

[Sun Thinker]

Sounds like there is a wide range of usage variations within the same size households. It would be helpful if people listed their suppliers, Rates per kWh, as well as usage.

[srgrimes]

I am on the Far Southwest side of Fort Worth and it is not uncommon to experience $460.00 a month (summer) from TU electric. Our new .07 two year plan reduced it to $260.00 but the windows are open and the Air is off. Also no pool. They say we will be paying for the Nuclear Power Plant in Glenrose Tx. for Thirty years after it's over budget construction that ended Twenty years ago.

[srgrimes]

I Would like to know who your service is with and how long you have been with them!

[Sun Thinker]

It sounds like there are definitely two edges to this new deregulated sword. In the cold northeast, my entire utility costs (heat/electric/water/sewer) averaged $170 per month total. Central AC, natural gas heat (no pool). That's about 1800 sf, higher ceilings. My last house was around $210 average.

I do know some that average 200 a month just for heat in the winter. Huge difference in energy costs if it's not insulated properly or windows leak.

[Twincam666]

In July and August mine runs $500 or so...This year one month hit almost $700 though

[Sun Thinker]

Sounds like the lower costs of housing there are more than made up for with the higher utility costs and property taxes. Funny how it all evens out for most. My annual costs for utilities, including heat/ac/water/sewer average $2,400 annually. It was a balmy 27 degrees here this morning