July 2011 Electric Bill (how much, move to, cheapest)

[PanTerra]

Originally Posted by Texafornian

Ok so it sounds like setting it a bit lower at night is strictly due to preference then, yes?

We just moved here from CA, and since it's almost always in the 70s there we rarely ran the A/C at all, so I'm totally a novice at this. I honestly wasn't sure if you all were setting it lower because there was some obscure need for the housing here to be cooled at night that I didn't know about, sort of like how people have to water their house's foundations here (which is a whole other enigma to me). The other thought I had was that maybe I was missing some crazy reverse logic where if you set it lower at night, you somehow save more electricity haha. Just wasn't sure, but this helps - thanks all!!

Your AC won't have to work so hard at night (keep kicking in) to keep the temps inside the house comfortable, so it won't be so hard to keep it cooler, which a lot of people like to sleep with a little cooler temps, I know I do. My last bill was $119 and that is with 2500 sq ft, at a rate of $0.083.

[racehorse]

My ex-husband used to try to keep the thermostat in the 60s overnight. We were on the second floor of our old house though with only one unit, so there was a bit of a difference. We're are on the first floor now, with two units.

[txgolfer130]

July bill is $52.59. But then again we've been on vacation for the last part of July till this week! Set the thermostat to 84* upstairs while we were gone, and 85* downstairs.

Normal settings are 81* downstairs during the day and 80* upstairs as well. At night is 76* downstairs and 75* upstairs. Rate for August is 4.5 cents...avg usual August consumption is 2400 Kwh. Should give a bill roughly around $110.

After seeing everyone's settings I now know who has been consuming the power during the heat wave Texas was...is experiencing while we we're gone.

[Texafornian]

Originally Posted by mami2emily

Being frugal is perfectly o.k.!!

Thanks for the vote of confidence...now I just have to convince my wife of the same thing =).

[mSooner]

We had ours set at 60 to get it to stay between 78-82.

[Mr.Bungle]

I think July was $230ish. The highest we've ever paid! But we're in a 2300 sqft 2 story house now. Programmed to 74 at night plus all the vents except the bedroom are closed. 80 during the day and then we have some other programmings based on when we're upstairs vs downstairs but really everything alternated between 80 when not using the space to 74ish when we are and that was only for July since it was so hot.

Prior to the heatwave, my wife had it at 85 during the day when not home. But with the triple digits, the house just couldn't cool down below 79 or 80 in the evenings. So that was when we changed it up, closed vents, and bought curtains. We also have solar screens on every window.

I do miss living 5 miles from the ocean and just opening windows at night because the it cooled down to the 60's outside. But hey, we do what we can with what we have, right? I'm not complaining! I often find myself thinking about how the hell did folks deal with this heat back in the pre-AC days when they first settled in the area? And how did they deal with it in wool suits!? Pioneer balls...

[Pete53FR]

My electric rate is 9 cents and last month 360 dollars for 2400 sf with guests. Keep Central at 80 during day and 78 at night. When we are by ourselves we put it at 82 in house and run a 12000 btu window unit at 70. In fact we run the window unit at 70 night and day during summer.

I absolutely hate deregulation and am thinking of switching to Penywise at month to month 5 cents rate. I would actually be able to recoup the 175 early cancellation fee in one or two months.

When you look at the choice we have have you ever wonered why the rate is more or less the same for all the different companies. Deregulation equal a license to steal from consumers.

[ommatidia]

Which company gives 4.5 cents/KWh?


We paid ~$140 each for July and August. 2000sqft single story house. There is always somebody in the house during daytime. Setting at 80-81F.

Originally Posted by txgolfer130

July bill is $52.59. But then again we've been on vacation for the last part of July till this week! Set the thermostat to 84* upstairs while we were gone, and 85* downstairs.

Normal settings are 81* downstairs during the day and 80* upstairs as well. At night is 76* downstairs and 75* upstairs. Rate for August is 4.5 cents...avg usual August consumption is 2400 Kwh. Should give a bill roughly around $110.

After seeing everyone's settings I now know who has been consuming the power during the heat wave Texas was...is experiencing while we we're gone.

[grneyedmustang]

910 square foot apartment, $187.00. I usually keep my apartment at 79 during the day and 70 at night. (I'd keep it lower if the temperature would get that low, but the lowest I've been able to get the temp during this heat is 69 degrees). I sleep better with it cool.

Unfortunately, I can't shop around because my apartment complex only allows the use of one provider.

[Texan#1]

I live in a 10 year old 3k sq ft house and my bill was $450 for July. I turn the upstairs unit off during the day and have the downstairs unit at 78. I then turn the upstairs unit on at 78 at around 6 so the upstairs cools down before I go to bed and then turn the unit downstairs off right before bed and adjust the upstairs to 75. I'm spending too much time on this!!