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I got our electric bill and I was in total shock! Last month it was $248. I don't know what we are doing to make our electric bill so high. Our heat is electric and I keep it on 75 during the day and maybe 78 at night. We are in an upstairs apartment. We have 1 TV. I use the oven every night for an hour to bake a potato. I use the dishwasher 1-2 times a day depending. But I have a feeling it's the heat that's causing our bill to be so high. I have it set it on 70 which still feels a bit cold but we can't afford $300 for electric every month. Do you all think $300 sounds right for such a small space?
Your heat should be going down at night, not up. Why are you heating the place when you are in bed under covers? Set it down to at least 60 when you go to bed. You're keeping your place hotter than my 88 year old mother does!
While you are up - put more clothes on. Wear sweats and socks and slippers.
Why are you running the dishwasher twice a day? Are these full packed loads? If they are, switch to paper plates! If they are not full loads - you're wasting power and water.
If you don't have a microwave, get one and stop using the oven.
I would die at 78, mine is 70 to 71 during the day and 65 at night. It does get cold her, in teh 20's tonight. Mine was 202.00, for 1500 sq ft. I use the dishwasher once a week. Some good suggestions ^^
I got our electric bill and I was in total shock! Last month it was $248. I don't know what we are doing to make our electric bill so high. Our heat is electric and I keep it on 75 during the day and maybe 78 at night. We are in an upstairs apartment. We have 1 TV. I use the oven every night for an hour to bake a potato. I use the dishwasher 1-2 times a day depending. But I have a feeling it's the heat that's causing our bill to be so high. I have it set it on 70 which still feels a bit cold but we can't afford $300 for electric every month. Do you all think $300 sounds right for such a small space?
Good gravy...buy a sweater and turn the heat down. I know prices vary but you are paying more for electric in your apartment than we are for a nearly 3000sqft house. When it's 75*-78* outside we are wearing shorts!!
Also, you can cook a potato in the microwave or get a cheap little toaster oven but running the oven for an hour to bake one potato? At least bake a bunch of potatoes and keep them in the fridge so you don't have to run the oven every day.
Does the dishwasher have a heating element to heat the water? That would use extra electricity. How many people live in your apartment that you run it 1-2 a day? We are a family of 4 and run ours 3-4 times a week.
FWIW...we keep the heat at 64-65 during the day and 58 at night.
Last edited by NCyank; 02-07-2010 at 08:02 PM..
Reason: typo
I got our electric bill and I was in total shock! Last month it was $248. I don't know what we are doing to make our electric bill so high. Our heat is electric and I keep it on 75 during the day and maybe 78 at night. We are in an upstairs apartment. We have 1 TV. I use the oven every night for an hour to bake a potato. I use the dishwasher 1-2 times a day depending. But I have a feeling it's the heat that's causing our bill to be so high. I have it set it on 70 which still feels a bit cold but we can't afford $300 for electric every month. Do you all think $300 sounds right for such a small space?
Found your problem (see the blue in your post).
We have always kept our heat at 68 deg for the 40+ years we've lived in our 1800 sq ft home. We've also worn a sweater or leg cover to stay comfy. On really cold days we use small elect. oil filled space heaters to warm just the room(s) we are in instead of the whole house.
Bottom line here is your heating bill is an accurate accounting of how you use energy. It would behoove you to learn ways to conserve electricity.
One tip that will serve as an example of how to save is to bake that potato in a micro wave in 5 min or less than run an oven for an hour. Run your dishwasher only when it's full etc.
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At least bake a bunch of potatoes and keep them in the fridge so you don't have to run the oven every day. 
