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I live in Garner and have for the past 4 years. We have a 2400 sq. ft home (furnished basement and 1st floor).
I've kept every bill since we've moved in, and we run average $180 a month (lower in spring & summer (150-160) / higher in winter (220)). Last July (2015) it was $166.85, but the bill I got yesterday for this July and it was for $273.91!!!
Now I know it can be a ton of factors. We run our A/C at 76 (avg. I am guessing). Our lights are all LED, a few florescent. No issues with appliances. We keep our HVAC maintained (twice a year cleaning of condensers and all). Nothing has really changed in our use or patterns.
March and April were $155 and $151. Normal for us. May was $178, a little high. June was $ $233 - high. Then last month (28 day cycle even) was the $273.91. We've never hit that since we lived here.
Has anyone else noticed an increase... or do you think something may be wrong? I can't think of what would be causing this. Yes, we had a few hot and muggy days... but I wouldn't expect it to go up that much.
Duke will come out to your home for an inspection, but when I called they said they were full for our area and I'd have to try again later. In the mean time I'm going crazy trying to find the vampire electronics and save a few cents... but I am guessing that it won't save me $80 in a month
Anyhow... I'm just trying to think of why it might have increased by what... a third from what it'd normally be at. Almost $100 over this time last year.
In the mean time I'm going crazy trying to find the vampire electronics and save a few cents...
Sorry to hear about your situation. Has anyone been leaving windows open? Are there leaks in your weather-stripping? Could there be a failure of the insulation, especially in the attic? It could have gotten wet, or been dug up by squirrels.
If you don't already have an attic fan, they can also help.
Last edited by goldenage1; 08-09-2016 at 12:30 PM..
Thanks for the reply... yes we have 2 attic fans. I can hear them when I am in the garage, so I know they're still working (both new when we bought the house as the old were burned out).
As for windows - no, nothing open. And if the kids tried to open them, we'd hear the alarm chime I have terrible allergies, so I and they know to keep them closed.
The insulation does suck... the house was built in the 70's and it's a very small attic, dark and hard to get into, lol. There is that blown-in pinkish evil fiberglass insulation up there. Doesn't look like it's been touched in 40 years. When I win the lotto, I'd love to have it replaced... but I haven't heard or seen any critters up there.
I just looked at my bills, and my bill was 30 per cent more for the one ending mid July, than the one ending mid-June. So it doesn't seem irrationally high to me...Like you I keep my A/C at 76, during the day, and for a few hours at night at 72.
FWIW, mine was lower this year than last year...but last year I moved here in June, the doors were open a lot with the moving and coming and going, and I hadn't figured out a system, so the comparison won't work for me.
Good luck sorting this out. Soon it will cool off!
A couple months ago mine also spiked up with no explanation and then went back down?? Maybe this is Duke's way of getting more money out of us to help pay for the coal ash clean-up...
Humidity factors in as well. We had high heat and humidity a few weeks ago. I've yet to receive my July bill but the June bill was $62 less than last year's June bill. Some things to consider:
*filters. I use the cheap green fiberglass filters during the non-pollen months. I firmly believe the house cools easier in the summer with this better air flow.
*attic fans. If you have a ridge vent system you do not need fans. No ridge vent: If you have an open gable fan in the same attic area and your house has soffit vents then you are pulling air in from the gable and not up from the soffit where the air is cooler.
* If you have a good ac system adjust the time that you start cooling down for sleep. When I had weak systems I used to start my cool down at 6:00 pm to get the house at 69 by 11:00. My setback is now set down one degree at 7:15pm and 3 more degrees at 8:45pm. (house is at 73 during the day, 69 at night). 2250 sq/ft home.
I live in Garner and have for the past 4 years. We have a 2400 sq. ft home (furnished basement and 1st floor).
I've kept every bill since we've moved in, and we run average $180 a month (lower in spring & summer (150-160) / higher in winter (220)). Last July (2015) it was $166.85, but the bill I got yesterday for this July and it was for $273.91!!!
Is the house 4 years old? The HVAC system?
July has been hot with one day breaking the record of electric usage in the state. It's not surprising that bills come in higher for the month of July. You cannot look at the past and say...well my bill will average $180 per month for ever. HVAC systems leak coolant, internal components lose efficiency, weather proofing (windows, doors) lose their seal. Stuff happens.
My old HVAC broke and I replaced it in June (it was 15 years old ). The efficiency of the new system is amazing. July was actually one of the lowest bills I've ever had, and I kept the house 2 degrees cooler than with the old system.
OP: If you have an on-line account with Duke you will have access to historical data and charts.
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). The efficiency of the new system is amazing. July was actually one of the lowest bills I've ever had, and I kept the house 2 degrees cooler than with the old system.
