Electric Bill (Portland: apartments, Home Depot, rooftop)

[lac098]

As a newbie to Portland I'm wondering if anyone can tell me if $98 for 33 days service for a 700 s/f apt. is high? My husband got the elec bill today & called me to say it was $98...I'm still here in Fla. til end of mth. Anyway...we were kind of shocked. Seems rather high to me for one mth. We have Portland General Elec. He says he only turns on one heater on low during the night and sometimes during the day... We don't even have a washer/dryer....luckily! Coming from Fla. we never had to use the heat, just the opposite...the A/C. Anyway...does this seem high for a small apt? I went onlinie to look at the breakdown and it seems the actual elec usage was only apprx $64, but there is also a $26 distribution charge, According to PGE the distribution charge is as stated:

"Transmission and distribution charges cover the cost of bringing power to you. Previously, these charges were included in your Basic Charge and Energy Use Charge. The charges are now broken out so you can see the cost of maintaining the utility poles, lines, substations, transmission towers and other equipment."

Our son lives 2 miles from us and is with a different elec co. and his bills are much lower. Is PGE higher than the others out there?

BTW...I told him from now on to wear a coat at night!

[nillawafer]

I'm in a more southern part of Oregon right now, but when I lived in Portland 4 years ago, I remember my apartment's electricity bill being about $80 during the winter. I did have a washer/dryer and only myself in the apartment. Prices have risen, so it is very likely that is an accurate reading. I think my brothers two bedroom bill was $120 with washer/dryer and two people, during the winter. The heat just drifts out of their apartment though.

Hopefully some current Portlanders will chime in.

[cdelena]

Electricity is very reasonable in this part of the country but if the apartment uses resistance heating the usage will be high. Compare Kwh as well as dollars to get a idea of what is going on.

[lac098]

Originally Posted by cdelena

Electricity is very reasonable in this part of the country but if the apartment uses resistance heating the usage will be high. Compare Kwh as well as dollars to get a idea of what is going on.

What is resistance heating? Also, I just looked at the bill and it's from Mar 14th to Apr 16th...I guess that's still considered "winter" in portland. The Kwh used was 943. Is that a lot? Sorry...don't know anything about this! Thanks!

[nillawafer]

lac098,

I don't know about Kwh sorry, but depending on what the weather is doing at this time of year it can be cold. We had a day in the 80's last week and just yesterday morning I had a light layer of snow on the rooftop and ground. (OK, just had to edit this and look outside, its worse than yesterday. It looks like a winter wonderland. I wonder if it is in Portland?) Its nuts! I'm in a town a few hours south of Portland right now. I usually don't turn off the heat until we are regularly in the 70's during the day and it hopefully doesn't go lower than the 40s at night and that might be May I think. I do run the AC all summer, this apartment is way too hot in the summer. All my other apartments I haven't needed AC. I usually put the heat on again by October. Others may be different, just wanted to let you know what you may encounter.

[lac098]

Originally Posted by nillawafer

lac098,

I don't know about Kwh sorry, but depending on what the weather is doing at this time of year it can be cold. We had a day in the 80's last week and just yesterday morning I had a light layer of snow on the rooftop and ground. (OK, just had to edit this and look outside, its worse than yesterday. It looks like a winter wonderland. I wonder if it is in Portland?) Its nuts! I'm in a town a few hours south of Portland right now. I usually don't turn off the heat until we are regularly in the 70's during the day and it hopefully doesn't go lower than the 40s at night and that might be May I think. I do run the AC all summer, this apartment is way too hot in the summer. All my other apartments I haven't needed AC. I usually put the heat on again by October. Others may be different, just wanted to let you know what you may encounter.

So then, what is your bill like during the winter mths then? thanks for the info!

[karlsch]

Originally Posted by lac098

What is resistance heating? Also, I just looked at the bill and it's from Mar 14th to Apr 16th...I guess that's still considered "winter" in portland. The Kwh used was 943. Is that a lot? Sorry...don't know anything about this! Thanks!

You are being charged less than 7 cents per kWh. This is very low. See this chart:
State Electricity Price Ranking

Most likely the problem is a poorly insulated apartment building.

[lac098]

Originally Posted by karlsch

You are being charged less than 7 cents per kWh. This is very low. See this chart:
State Electricity Price Ranking

Most likely the problem is a poorly insulated apartment building.

good info. thanks again. Actually, I think the problem could be that my husband is just not used to the cold. Spending 10yrs in Fla. it's hard to adjust to the cold again, even though we are both originally from the Northeast. I think he's just been keeping it on all the time. Hopefully, we will get used to it and not have to use the heat as much!

[nillawafer]

lac,

When I lived in Portland it was around $80 (4 years ago) with washer/dryer and in newer complex. I live in a much cheaper area for electricity right now. I think mine is now $45 at the most, but no washer/dryer in apartment. It is an older apartment, but it has good storm windows. I think that is why it is also so hot in here in the summer. Since it is so much cheaper where I am now, it can't compare to Portland prices.

Is it a bottom apartment those seem to be colder, since heat rises. Unfortunately to me $64 seems about right especially if your not used to the cold. We may have had a cold spell too. I don't remember. One good thing is once you have been here a year you can get an averaged bill that will take all your amounts for the year and then split that cost over 12 months, so it will even it out all year around. I haven't done it, but it seems like a good idea. You do have to sign up for it if you want it.

Sorry I don't think I've been much help.

[lac098]

Originally Posted by nillawafer

lac,

When I lived in Portland it was around $80 (4 years ago) with washer/dryer and in newer complex. I live in a much cheaper area for electricity right now. I think mine is now $45 at the most, but no washer/dryer in apartment. It is an older apartment, but it has good storm windows. I think that is why it is also so hot in here in the summer. Since it is so much cheaper where I am now, it can't compare to Portland prices.

Is it a bottom apartment those seem to be colder, since heat rises. Unfortunately to me $64 seems about right especially if your not used to the cold. We may have had a cold spell too. I don't remember. One good thing is once you have been here a year you can get an averaged bill that will take all your amounts for the year and then split that cost over 12 months, so it will even it out all year around. I haven't done it, but it seems like a good idea. You do have to sign up for it if you want it.

Sorry I don't think I've been much help.

yes, it is a ground floor apt. I didn't even think about that, but it would be colder being at the ground level. My husband is going to check out some heaters at home depot. might be cheaper using one of those.