Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
^ We also run a dehumidifier in the basement. It is a necessity. CAC doesn't go down there. Dehumidifiers should have a setting to automatically turn off at a specified RH% so it doesn't run constantly (that would be bad in more ways than one).
I still don't see the issue here. $200/month for electric in the summer months (including Sept.) is not high here. Our CAC usage was about the same as OP described. All the other months make you average out to just over $100/mo. for the year which isn't terrible. Gas bill works out the same (higher in the winter but avgs out).
^ We also run a dehumidifier in the basement. It is a necessity. CAC doesn't go down there. Dehumidifiers should have a setting to automatically turn off at a specified RH% so it doesn't run constantly (that would be bad in more ways than one).
I still don't see the issue here. $200/month for electric in the summer months (including Sept.) is not high here.
Agreed. I just started using a basement dehumidifier this spring and even with it set to very dry (35%) it has impacted my bill but really so far only in the one covering June and part of July. CAC is on for 12 hours per day during the summer but set to 76 when on. All electric appliances and oil heat. My previous monthly summer bills (upon recept) have been:
July 2017 $115
July 2018 $112
July 2019 $203
August 2017 $145
August 2018 $132
August 2019 $140
Sept 2017 $117
Sept 2017 $203
Sept 2018 $143
Oct 2017 $91
Oct 2018 $76
Oct 2019 $78
They do alternate between Estimated and Actual though, usually every other month but occasionally they do two Estimateds in a row. It's not a smart meter, just the spinning dial type. The last two bills have been Estimated and so I do expect that the next Actual reading will probably be higher than my typical $75 to $100 ish for the one I receive in November.
What about the prior year? If your bill properly was 270 for May & June, 430 seems pretty routine for July and August. As for October 2nd, are you sure no a/c used -- recall that it was 90+ degrees on October 2.
A dehumidifier can up your bill a bit, mine was up with my DS using one in our finished attic (don't get me started on this kid and his inability to cope with the heat, it's like living with a menopausal woman).
OP if you don't have a dryer with a heat sensor that can tell when the load is done, get one, also if I'm doing back to back loads of laundry I try to take one out and put the next one right in to retain and use some of the dryer heat.
That bill being for two months isn't so terrible though, you're right.
I just received my August & September bill. It was $235 for TWO months.
However, June & July was $450 for TWO months. 2 AC never shut off.
Otherwise, my bill is $300 +/- for TWO months on average . I have friends & family who tell me their electric bill is $500 +/- for ONE month! Sure, there are many variables to consider.
After getting one I never want to have to deal with “estimated” bills or lazy meter readers again.
They didn't even ask me, new construction they just installed it. I wanted one anyways, as ovi8 (Holtby sucks) mentioned I had the gas version before it's great!
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
