No idea of kwh usage for electric plan... help? (Houston: renting, appliances)

[mamabear01]

I'm moving to Dallas from Seattle. We don't have AC, and we have mild weather, so our electric usage is pretty low. The most it's been in the past year was 683kwh and that was in January (we have gas heat) in a 2600 sq ft house. Most of the rest of the year usage is under 500kwh. We are moving to a 1600 sq ft house. I have no idea how to estimate our usage to try to pick an electric provider. I understand how to read the plans and offers, but without a guess at our usage it's pretty useless unless I go with a plan that is based solely on usage (i.e. 10.4cents per kwh used, no other fees).

I know it depends on a number of factors, but seeing as I have absolutely nothing similar to go on, could anyone here give me their kwh usage for a house that is around 1600 sq ft without a pool? Maybe your average for the extreme summer/winter months and then the average for the rest of the year?

Also, if you have suggestions or experience on picking a plan without any idea of your usage, please share. I'm open to ideas so that we don't get screwed on our electric plan.

[El Senor]

Peak usage for one of my old properties:

3/2 duplexes in Plano, 1580 sq ft each
Gas heat, stove and water heater

Left side, which had a family of four and the side that had evening sun that hit the living room. July 2011 used 970 kWh. The right side which had a single male that traveled for work used 770.

Still the hottest July on record.

[Trainwreck20]

The age of the build/quality of construction will have a huge impact. I had by myself in an old, 1970s era home (1600 sf) that regularly went well over 1,000 kWh, even though I didn't keep it particularly cool. I now live in a 1999 construction (2400 sf) home that rarely goes over 1,000 kWh, even though we keep it cooler and are a family of four now.

I know that doesn't really help much, El Senor's answer is much better, but the variables in shade, age of AC unit, quality of insulation, etc. have an impact that is too big to just ignore. That said, you should be able to request a record of the last 12-months usage if you are looking at specific house.

[Debsi]

My 1959 house is less than 1500 square feet and I probably go over 1000kwH 4 times per year.

It's definitely not an energy efficient home, I still have the original windows, I think.

[mamabear01]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

The age of the build/quality of construction will have a huge impact. I had by myself in an old, 1970s era home (1600 sf) that regularly went well over 1,000 kWh, even though I didn't keep it particularly cool. I now live in a 1999 construction (2400 sf) home that rarely goes over 1,000 kWh, even though we keep it cooler and are a family of four now.

I know that doesn't really help much, El Senor's answer is much better, but the variables in shade, age of AC unit, quality of insulation, etc. have an impact that is too big to just ignore. That said, you should be able to request a record of the last 12-months usage if you are looking at specific house.

I know the house was built in 1991 and the appliances are new, but I don't know much more about it because the move has come upon us rather quickly (we're renting the house and my husband visited it just one or two times).

Your response is very helpful! How do I request the last 12 months of usage without knowing the electric provider? We tried to ask the previous resident but he just gave us the smart meter info. I tried to go to the smart meter texas website, but it asks for the electric provider. Is there another way I can get that info?

[mamabear01]

Originally Posted by El Senor

Peak usage for one of my old properties:

3/2 duplexes in Plano, 1580 sq ft each
Gas heat, stove and water heater

Left side, which had a family of four and the side that had evening sun that hit the living room. July 2011 used 970 kWh. The right side which had a single male that traveled for work used 770.

Still the hottest July on record.

Thank you!

[jackalope48]

Originally Posted by mamabear01

I know the house was built in 1991 and the appliances are new, but I don't know much more about it because the move has come upon us rather quickly (we're renting the house and my husband visited it just one or two times).

Your response is very helpful! How do I request the last 12 months of usage without knowing the electric provider? We tried to ask the previous resident but he just gave us the smart meter info. I tried to go to the smart meter texas website, but it asks for the electric provider. Is there another way I can get that info?

Lines company should have it. Provider and who reads the meter are often different in Texas.

[War Beagle]

At least you'll be in Dallas, which is a little more seasonal. I have to run my A/C in the Houston area about 8 months out of the year. Probably 5-6 months of that is with the A/C never going off at all.

[CCCyou]

I'd just pick a 5c/kwh 3-mo plan for 1000kwh ave - plenty of these specials to pick from!
Pick another 5c/kwh 3-mo plan in 3 mos.


6mo an 12mo plans track at 8c and 10c respectively, and they ALL up the rate IF you Stay with them and renew.


switching, and switching often (3-mos) gets you electricity at 5c/kwh!