Clermont - pool/electric bill (Orlando, Lakeland: rental, house, water heater)

[M2JS]

Hi all, We're relocating to Clermont next month and setting up utilities for a rental home. The home is less than 1800 sq.ft and has a salt water (heated) pool (no lanei). We called Progress Energy to set up the electric utilities and was shocked to learn about the landlords' average monthly bill of $320. With that in mind, Progress Energy required two months' worth for a deposit, $640. Wow! I've never had a bill past $150 in NC, but we also currently do not own a pool.

Is anybody else in this position and can offer any advice? Does a pool tack on that much expense in utilities? Would this $320 bill be a typical expense for the above described house?

Thanks!
M2JS

[dbansal]

Originally Posted by M2JS

Hi all, We're relocating to Clermont next month and setting up utilities for a rental home. The home is less than 1800 sq.ft and has a salt water (heated) pool (no lanei). We called Progress Energy to set up the electric utilities and was shocked to learn about the landlords' average monthly bill of $320. With that in mind, Progress Energy required two months' worth for a deposit, $640. Wow! I've never had a bill past $150 in NC, but we also currently do not own a pool.

Is anybody else in this position and can offer any advice? Does a pool tack on that much expense in utilities? Would this $320 bill be a typical expense for the above described house?

Thanks!
M2JS

Depends on energy efficiency of the home in question along with how long the pool filter is running, but that does seem a bit high for that size house. Pool typically adds about $50 a month to the bill. Also keep in mind the water heater is most likely electric, which is another $40-$50 a month potentially, whereas in NC those are usually gas. I'm guessing that bill is peak summer usage, I have a 4500 sq.ft. house with pool and my bill in the summer is around $225 (about $125 rest of the year), but I built my house myself to be energy efficient (and I have a tankless propane water heater). I would have Progress Energy do an energy audit to find out where there might potentially be a problem, especially checking the AC units, that's where most of the electricity will go in the summer.

[M2JS]

Thank you for your response. We also think these monthly averages of electrical bills seem outrageous. Progress Energy told us that the landlords monthly bill was $320 over a 12 month average of bills. What in the world are they running all day long, lol? As for a pool filter, how long does that need to run daily? Thank you for advice about the energy audit as that's an excellent idea.

[dbansal]

Originally Posted by M2JS

Thank you for your response. We also think these monthly averages of electrical bills seem outrageous. Progress Energy told us that the landlords monthly bill was $320 over a 12 month average of bills. What in the world are they running all day long, lol? As for a pool filter, how long does that need to run daily? Thank you for advice about the energy audit as that's an excellent idea.

Yeah seriously, can't imagine that for a monthly average lol... 6-8 hours a day should be sufficient for the pool filter, I run mine around 6 hours haven't had any problems... Good luck, keep me posted would be interested to find out what the energy audit reveals

[M2JS]

Thanks for your advice about the pool filter. We'll need a crash course in pool info even though the pool care is included. The monthly electric bill seems fishy to us. What are they growing in there?? LMAO! Anywho, I'll keep you updated. As we make this move, this Orlando board will be a useful one! :-) Thanks again! M2JS

[M2JS]

Okay, so here we are living in our money pit rental home. Our first electric bill a whopping $343 for June 12 to July 14. We run the pool filter for for five hours daily, the AC is set on a 75 degrees (we don't like this but hoping this would help our bill), etc., etc., etc.

I've asked our landlord about an energy audit since their usual monthly bill was $320. This is a 1600 sqft home and although the pool is incredible and bigger than most, I still find this unreasonable.

I have a friend who has an 8000 sqft home with a pool and her bill never exceeds this amount. I'll keep you posted on any findings!

[Sparky34769]

M2JS: I think the another question to ask is at what temperature the pool was maintained and was it covered. Pool heating can get expensive, especially if going for higher temperatures and/or not covering at night.

Just a thought.

(I am assuming the pool is heated by electric ... maybe not the correct assumption)

[jemelb]

My yearly average electric bill is $300.

2,500 living sqft
Pool pump is ran 6 hrs a day
Thermostat 78 at night 80 during the day
all light bulbs were change to florescent
electric water heater temperature dropped to lowest setting

[nap]

We run the pool 8 hours - saline system, 2500 living sq ft (with excellent insulation), thermostat is set at 77 all day every day, gas water heater and stove, electric oven, deep freeze, and we're not on city water, so we also power a well and a water system.

Our highest bill in the past 12 months was $316, lowest (February) was $155.

That being said, we moved from Hawaii last year. My $316 bill for last month, using approx. 2600 kwh would cost just over $1,000 on the Big Island.

[jennifer84]

I live in lakeland and the electric bills out here are CRAZY. I have a 1172sqft home and NO POOL. My bill is anywhere between 314 and 340 a month. Everyone I talk to in Lakeland says the same thing. They are the worst. I keep my a/c on 78 and it still doesnt work. in january and feb., since those are the coldest months, my electric has stayed 220's, 240's