Wow...APS rates have gone up quite a bit in the last year... (Phoenix: work)

[HX_Guy]

We just got our latest bill, and while consciously trying to cut down on the amount of electricity we use, or use it more efficiently (such as turning the dishwasher on after 9:00 PM and setting the pool pump to run at night)...the electric bill was only $6.00 less then the same period last year.

The truth however is that APS has raised their rates quite a bit.
On their site, you can see your usage for the past 24 months and it looks something like this...



So while using 342 kWh less in the same time period, the electric bill was practically the same.

Just a little FYI for when the electric bill starts to look like it's quite a bit higher come this summer...

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

We just got our latest bill, and while consciously trying to cut down on the amount of electricity we use, or use it more efficiently (such as turning the dishwasher on after 9:00 PM and setting the pool pump to run at night)...the electric bill was only $6.00 less then the same period last year.

The truth however is that APS has raised their rates quite a bit.
On their site, you can see your usage for the past 24 months and it looks something like this...



So while using 342 kWh less in the same time period, the electric bill was practically the same.

Just a little FYI for when the electric bill starts to look like it's quite a bit higher come this summer...

You sure use a lot on peak. My orange bar is a little sliver - about 10%.

[HX_Guy]

Yea...that would be nice, but we both work from home so we're here pretty much all day long.

[jgunn72]

Man, how big of a house do you have? :P From the meter reading on May 6, I used 685 total Kwh, 65% off peak 35% on peak. Total bill 92.41. 1673Sq ft house. I installed thermal curtains on the main heat collecting windows, especially the south facing ones. Night and day difference. Without the curtains you could feel intense heat coming in all day on the southern windows. Now, cool as ice. I am also cooling the house to 71 degrees from 8-9AM when rates are low so as to not use any AC for a while during the day. At 9PM the thermo cools down to 74 degrees for a good nights sleep. We'll see how this works when gets 100+ which starts this week!

[HX_Guy]

The house is only 1884 sq ft and we keep the ac at 77, sometmes 76 because the front office faces east and gets to 79 while the back of the house is at 75-76. We are actually having solar screens installed today on all east, south, and west windows...I'm hoping it will make a difference.

[shilo0854]

Yesterday I got a letter from SRP and this is their 2 increase this year. With gas going up everyday almost I'm still in shock we are paying what we are. You know if all this was plentiful they will not decrease the price much compared to the steep increase. I keep my air on 79 most days and 78 when I can't stand it much. I pay $120 for 1364 sq. ft. Of course that will be going up now again.

[nikkzone]

You know now they have a time advantage rate from 7PM-Noon. On peak rate is a bit higher, but for us it should save us a bit more especially now all kids will be home during the day. You can do the rate comparison on APS site to see if you are using the best plan for your household.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by jgunn72

Man, how big of a house do you have? :P From the meter reading on May 6, I used 685 total Kwh, 65% off peak 35% on peak. Total bill 92.41. 1673Sq ft house. I installed thermal curtains on the main heat collecting windows, especially the south facing ones. Night and day difference. Without the curtains you could feel intense heat coming in all day on the southern windows. Now, cool as ice. I am also cooling the house to 71 degrees from 8-9AM when rates are low so as to not use any AC for a while during the day. At 9PM the thermo cools down to 74 degrees for a good nights sleep. We'll see how this works when gets 100+ which starts this week!

I do the chill thing too. Turn it down to 71 at 7 pm and back up to 82 at noon weekdays, 76 weekends. The ac only comes on during peak in the very hottest days in July/Aug. I get about 85-90% off peak and sleep in cool comfort. I also have demand charge rate which can really cut it down if you stick to the rules. I used to have a load controller but it conked out and I do the management manually. Just make sure that the big guys are not on at the same time during the peak hours.

[JF1980]

I am planning to move to Phoenix next year and was wondering what the average electric bill is. We will probably not have a pool and will have a 2 story house. Any help would be appreciated.

[joninaz]

The thermal curtains - are those on the inside? If so, I would have thought it would be more effective to block the sun's impact before the rays hit the pane.

HX - you will notice a very nice difference. I've got a 1962 built house and have upgraded everything, including low e2 argon windows, 3M film on the windows I couldn't switch out, etc. The extrenal screens made an immediate difference.