[WestieJeff]

I just received my first summer (on peak) electric bill since I switched over to the Time Of Use electric plan and I was pleasantly surprised.

I work a standard office work day schedule, usually returning home around 6:20. That makes me a pretty good candidate for the program since peak pricing time runs from 1pm-7pm June thru September.

I switched onto the Time of Use program last October and my (off peak) bills thus far have been roughly costing 50-60% of the prior year's bill.

To prep for the on peak summer billing, I switched my variable speed pool pump to run strictly at night during the off peak times. Also, per Scoop's advice I switched my AC programming, it now kicks on at 10:30am and runs full steam (it's set at 65 degrees) until 1pm, cooling down the house as much as possible (I do this work day or weekends). At 1pm it kicks off until 7pm which it then kicks down to 76.

It does get pretty hot by 5-7pm, especially at the end of June when it was scorching. Usually the interior temp would be 85-88 degrees, which is really hot, but coming in from 110+ it's bearable for a bit as long as the AC starts running fairly quickly and cooling the place down.

I said I wouldn't, but I have suffered in the heat a bit. My penny miser ways resisted turning on the AC prior to 7pm on all but the hottest of days. Towards the end of June I finally gave up and started kicking on the AC as soon as I got home. I have a 5 ton HVAC unit which uses approximately 10kw per hour it runs. The peak pricing is .37/kwh + taxes/fees so running my HVAC unit for 1 hour during peak times costs around $4.

Bottom line, my June bill arrived and it was LESS than last year's bill on the regular rate plan. Last year I used 60 kwh per day in June giving me a $240 bill. This year, on the Time of Use plan, I used 4.1 kwh per day on peak and 50 kwh off peak resulting in a $168 bill. I was fully expecting a $300 bill, especially considering this June was the hottest on record.

I plan on relaxing a lot next month on how much I use the AC on peak. Even with that I suspect I will end up saving around 20-25% for the year on the Time of Use plan.

[OmegaSupreme]

don't think the items in my pantry would appreciate anything at or above 80

good job cutting your bill!

[nickydim]

We are relocating from Long Island and moving into our house in Lone Mountain in April and was wondering just what kind of utility cost I'm looking at in a 3bdr, 1800 sqft ranch.

Any info would be appreciated on any type of utilities (gas, electric, etc) I know what sewer and trash costs now as I provide them to my tenants, but they pay the other utilities. What do you think it costs them and eventually me?

[C_A_Braun]

I switched to TOU Option A at the first of the year. My monthly bills for the first 6 months of the year:

Jan = $39.36
Feb = $38.56
Mar = $37.32
Apr = $33.72
May = $42.49
Jun = $98.54

Average Monthly Cost $48.33

[Raiderman]

My bill for last month was $248 We had house guests, and didn't want to submit them to 85 degree temps in the late afternoon inside the house. I don't think we have any visitors in July, so we'll be sub-$200 again.

[irishspy]

1,719 sq ft one level town house 3 br 2 baths 2 car garage and a Atrium. Elec bill for the past 29 days $169.00 temp left on 75 f 24/7 Installed solar screens on the windows the sun hits big difference and considering this is the hottest June we ever had not bad.

[macgeek]

Damn you all!
My bill is average around $250-$300 a month
(No grow house jokes, I have heard them all)

Jonathan

[EA]

My usage tripled in june. From 498kwh to 1462kwh. Needless to say, my bill tripled. I am not a good candidate for time of use. Wife and kids are home all day, and I get home at 2-230.
Anyway, my bill is 204 this month and I am ok with that. Back in nc, a 204 electric bill would prompt me to call the electric company and make sure they charged me for the whole month.

[Danknee]

Originally Posted by macgeek

Damn you all!
My bill is average around $250-$300 a month
(No grow house jokes, I have heard them all)

Jonathan

When does your solar project go live?

[winter-rabbit]

I try to focus on making more money so $200 electrical monthly bills seem like nothing.

Like in business, revenues solve all kinds of problems.