[aggrofish]

Originally Posted by MediocreButArrogant

Do the math. You're consuming an average of nearly four kilowatts an hour, every hour of the month. 4kW is what an electric oven consumes when the element is on, or a 3 ton AC unit, running constantly.

Just so we're clear this seems unusually high correct?

[mojavedxer]

There are so many variables involved that comparing to another household is like comparing apples to oranges. Besides better household energy management. You usually need to spend some bucks upgrading things like insulation and a more efficient AC.

[yellowsnow]

My worst bills were last summer. One over $500 and two over $400. And this is a 1500 sf older home.

Needless to say, the AC has been used a lot less since then. Haven't turned it on yet this year and the bills are right around $100. I am also in the process of adding a radiant barrier, more insulation. Insulating the whole garage, and replacing the windows and doors. I put up 3 more ceiling fans too.

I think the pool uses most of the $100 per month I am using now. I am checking into the possibility of windpower to operate the pool filter to save more. It's much cheaper than solar, lasts longer, and it's low maintenance. It MIGHT be doable because all I want to do is sell back to the power company to lower my bill. I'm not trying to go off the grid.

[aggrofish]

Originally Posted by mojavedxer

You usually need to spend some bucks upgrading things like insulation and a more efficient AC.

The house was built in 2007.

[MediocreButArrogant]

Originally Posted by mojavedxer

There are so many variables involved that comparing to another household is like comparing apples to oranges. Besides better household energy management. You usually need to spend some bucks upgrading things like insulation and a more efficient AC.

He took A/C, and perhaps heating too out of the equation. So it's something else.

One of my officemates has a similar problem. Something in his house is sucking down an enormous amount of power (averaging $800+ with no AC or heating, and running pool pumps minimally) and he can't find it. He figured out which breaker the consumption is occurring on, but when he shuts it off, he can't figure out what what he just shut off. That much power has to be dissipating heat, so I'm thinking an infrared camera might help us find the culprit.

[MediocreButArrogant]

My electric bill was only $59 last month. Heat pumps did not run at all - I had thermostat set to 78F and to cool, so they never went on. Pool pump ran at low speed for eight hours a day every day. I have about 45 watts of CFL that run all night, and another 30 or so that run 24x7. Add to that a refrigerator, and all the parasitic consumption of computer equipment and TVs, plus a few days of cooking on an electric range, washer and dryer (gas dryer), and dishwasher.

[Trash Can]

Originally Posted by MediocreButArrogant

One of my officemates has a similar problem. Something in his house is sucking down an enormous amount of power (averaging $800+ with no AC or heating, and running pool pumps minimally) and he can't find it. He figured out which breaker the consumption is occurring on, but when he shuts it off, he can't figure out what what he just shut off. That much power has to be dissipating heat, so I'm thinking an infrared camera might help us find the culprit.

That's weird. You would think something drawing that much power would eventually burn out or cause the CB to pop.

[mojavedxer]

Originally Posted by MediocreButArrogant

He took A/C, and perhaps heating too out of the equation. So it's something else.

One of my officemates has a similar problem. Something in his house is sucking down an enormous amount of power (averaging $800+ with no AC or heating, and running pool pumps minimally) and he can't find it. He figured out which breaker the consumption is occurring on, but when he shuts it off, he can't figure out what what he just shut off. That much power has to be dissipating heat, so I'm thinking an infrared camera might help us find the culprit.

They can not find the culprit. I am having a hard time believing that one or they are not trying hard enough.

[MadManofBethesda]

Originally Posted by aggrofish

I tried explaining the baseline was too high but they countered with the fact that in the winter, with the heat, the bill was $475 and it was ONLY $375 last month...meter must be rigged.

My bill last month was $200.68 for a two-story, 2505 sq. ft. house with pool motor running 6hrs/day. No a/c use yet, but heat still clicked on at night.

[MediocreButArrogant]

Originally Posted by mojavedxer

They can not find the culprit. I am having a hard time believing that one or they are not trying hard enough.

I haven't been over there to look for it myself. But I believe he is stating the facts. It's a huge, custom built home, and the original owner/builder (he was his own contractor) committed suicide after running out of money to finish it, so it's been a process of discovery to find out what exactly the house is equipped with. Other tradesmen have been out to trace all the pluming, electrical, etc. No joke, it could be something like an in-floor electric heating system in a hidden underground room we haven't found yet.