Electric? (Columbus: appliances, new home, live in)

[KPMats10]

Just moved to Colorado County from Connecticut, boy this stuff is confusing. Not even sure what my monthly usage will be. I live in a one level, two bedroom house. Looking at my old usage up north, I averaged about 850-900 kwh/month for the last year. Don't know if that's going to change because of more air conditioning usage and what not. I try to keep it on 76-78 during the day and 78 at night so far, but realize this isn't peak heat season anymore. My wife is going to be working from home as well.

I'm on powertochoose.com, looking at Breeze for a 3 month contract that charges 7.7 cents/1000kwh or 10 cents/500kwh Does most everyone use over 1,000/month?

Any suggestions for a provider you would recommend?

[metroxian]

Is your heat, and dryer gas or electric? Does the Ms. use the oven a lot? Gas or electric? Is it a fairly new home or an older? Are the windows in good shape? How about the exterior insulation? Do you have large trees for shade? On the west and south sides?

If you're going to use the AC a lot then 500kwh isn't going to be a lot. And that may be a tiered price structure. A rate for the first 1000kwh, a bit less for the next 1000kwh.

It's going to cool off dramatically in the next few weeks so if your heat is gas then your electric use is going to drop as well. Also, you might try using fans to keep the air moving rather than a lower temp. It's the compressor that uses the juice and the cooler you keep it the more juice the compressor drinks. And Columbus is going to be pretty humid being so close to the coast. Using a DE-humidifer helps to keep the air cooler. And plants will like the h2o it produces.

[KPMats10]

Heat and the dryer are electric. Oven use is normal I believe, also electric. Older home, windows appear dated. Exterior is wood. Tons of trees on the property and the house is under good shade all around.

About to get some more ceiling fans put in as well.

[metroxian]

I'd try to get a short contract, watch how the appliances use the electric. If the house performs well against the cooler elements then it probably will against the heat. If it's drafty and cold then you'll probably use more AC in the summer. Watch the kwh's, check the bill closely for a while then shop for a good rate.

And watch for a difference between the kwh charge and an item called TDU. Some bill that separately, and it ain't cheap.