About electricity bills

[thomasortega]

Guys, i don't know if this is the correct place to put this thread. Robert, please delete it if you think i posted it on the wrong place.

It's not about the specific consumption of an appliance but, the average consumption.

Almost two months after a heart attack that almost killed me, today I got my electricity bill. For a second I thought I was going to need a defibrillator again.

It was the equivalent to 900 american dollars. FOR A MONTH!

Ok, I live in Brazil, everything is very expensive here, blah, blah, blah but a TWO THOUSAND REAIS bill is simply desperating.

Now I'm curious. What's the average cost of electricity in different parts of the world? Let's consider a house like mine, a middle class apartment with a family of four, gas stove, gas oven,, dishwasher used only on weekends because the maid does the dishes by hand, a Jacuzzi bathtub used 5 times a day for less than 10 minutes each use, electric dryer that runs for less than an hour per week, 5 wall A/C running 24 hours a day, etc... Don't forget to consider it's summer here and our summer is hot as hell (to compare, the summer in California is our winter.) Please note that I have an electric heater for the bathtub but the last time i turned it on was a decade ago so, absolutely zero consumption for heating the water.

Well, of course I can blame the air conditioners for this huge consumption but, the price per kilowatt/hour is absurd.

So, guys, how much would you pay by month during the summer? Thanks in advance.

 

[rapunzel]

$900 for a month

Are you growing dope in your basement?

 

[DADoES]

 
The rate on my service varies a little on every billing.  The provider is a non-profit cooperative, they maintain a necessary operating margin.

Highest monthly bill in cost last summer was $210 but that wasn't the highest usage.

Highest monthly usage last summer was 2,177 KWH, cost $206.

 

[iheartmaytag]

That is high

If I ever got a bill like that they would have to call EMS or the mortuary for me.

Last months bill was in the $70s. This is winter so gas furnace and hot water, everything else electric. Highest this summer was low $200s, Central air running up to 12 hrs a day.

 

[sudsmaster]

No A/C here. But we have tiered rates.

On my last bill, I used about 600 KWH of juice. The first 300 or so was billed at about $.12/KWH. The next 150 or so, at $.15 each. The last 150, at $.32. So for the last 150 KWH I'm being charged as much as for the first 450 KWH.

600 KWH is not excessive, I think. When I bought this place, the consumption was running more like 1,000 KWH/month. I replaced two fridges that used about 3300 KWH/year between them, with two fridges that use about 1200 KWH/year. That's 1/3 of the previous refrigeration cost. Unfortunately I added a chest freeze that probably drives the consumption up to about 1550/year.

Just about all the lighting here is CFL or LED. The furnace is gas, as is the dryer. Cooktop is gas, wall oven is electric. Besides the second fridge and the chest freezer, what drives up the usage is probably the fish pond pump, which runs 7x24. That probably uses about as much juice per month as the chest freezer. Another load is the well pump, which I use to irrigate the garden and container plants. I've cut way back on its operation since the cold weather began. A load that I hadn't paid much attention to is the air compressor in the workshop. Normally I leave that powered on all the time. But it slowly leaks air (haven't quite figured out from where) so I've taken to shutting it down when I know I'm not going to need it for a while. That seems to save $$$, as it keeps it from cycling on to boost its pressure a couple times - or more - a day.

As for your Brazilian consumption.... I'm sure those AC units are the big energy hogs in your home. I am wondering if your home is insulated. If not, adding insulation to the attic and walls, and the floor if it's raised, might reduce the infiltration of heat into the living quarters. I know my place not only was warmer in the winter but also cooler in the summer after I insulated the attic here.

Petek's use is a bit surprising. At the local rates here, that 2,000 KWH/month would translate into costing at least $500 more per month. Probably more than that, since the extra use would go into a fourth rate tier, the cost of which I don't know since I've yet to get there.

And so it goes. This past month's combined gas/electric bill was $175. I'm sure the next bill will top $200 since the weather turned quite cold (down to 25F at night) so the heater's been on much more. Plus I'm home more now so I keep more lights and other stuff on during the day.

Which reminds me. Time to venture out into the cold to shut down the workshop compressor!

 

[dustin92]

We just got our utility bill, which is natural gas and electric combined, and it was $190 something. Not too bad. I don't think we have had a bill over $250 for a month in the year we have been here. Gas dryers, gas water heater, electric stove, plenty of hot water used for laundry and showers, gas furnace supplemented with wood stove, central A/C and two window units in the summer.

 

[arbilab]

I live alone in a very small space so the bill totals would not be comparable. A single wall unit, fridge, computer and TV cost $70 when the temp was 105F. In a slightly larger space, electric heat could cost over $300, while AC in that same space cost half that. When neither heat nor cooling is needed the bills could be as low as $30.

The average US rate is $0.12 per kWh. Take your $900US and divide by the kWh on the bill and get back to us. I'd like to know. I have a better database on Brasil than the average American. And I can sing Mas Que Nada and I know what it means.

 

[NYCWriter]

"The average US rate is $0.12 per kWh."

I don't know anyone in New York City who pays less than $0.25 per kWh.

In fact, my rate for years was $0.75/kWh until I got an intermediary to "adjust" me down to $0.25/kWh.

 

[arbilab]

I have done this survey on several boards and the AVERAGE US rate is 12c, irregardless (sic) of the absurdities of NYC pricing. I can buy a carton of cigar-ettes here for what a PACK costs in NYC, the most price-distorted market in the western world.

 

[gorenje]

I live alone in an appartment of 50 m2 (540 ft2) so the costs are probably not comparable but still I can say that luckilly (at least for now) here in Slovenia the prices for electricity are low.

I pay 18 or 19 EUR (24,80 USD or 26,16 USD) for a month.

That's for: frige, dishwasher, disposal, microwave, electric cooktop, electric oven, very wasteful vintage washing machine, dryer and other ordinary devices.

Hot water and heating are not included. (on gas)

 

[dj-gabriele]

In Italy electricity prices are tiered for the domestic users.

The average 3,5 people family consumes around 3500 kWh/year and the current price for that amount is around 0,27€/kWh (around 0,38$), that's around my annual consumption and price.

Methane cost is around 1€ per cubic metre, rising!
So the average cost for gas heating is around 0,10€ per kWh.

 

[paulg]

Paul in Chicago

In Chicago I live in an approx 4300 square-foot home. New construction. The electric bill and gas bills are not combined.
Almost everything in the house is electric. Two central air-conditioners, double-oven, five-burner electric cooktop, microwave, dishwasher, electric dryer, washer (two usually in use). Three refrigerators (two always in use) and freezer. Add to that external lighting, dual sump-pumps with marine-battery backup and charger.
Electric consumption varies from 1000 to 2500 kwh depending on season. That means my electric bill varies from roughly $130 - $250 per month depending.
I only plug in the 1954 Crosley fridge when entertaining. If I forget to unplug it you can see the electric bill go up at around $20 per month I think.

 

[polkanut]

We received our latest gas/electric bill on Tuesday and the total bill was $136.00.  We're on the budget plan, and also Time-Of-Use plan.  The billing cycle was from 11/04/13 thru 12/5/13, and doesn't reflect our current cold weather.  Our total electric bill for this billing cycle is $70.61, and gas is $83.20.  I would definitely dispute your bill with your utility.  That's just not right.

 

P.S. Our house is a one story bungalow @ 1140 sq. ft.  Our electric is 6.2¢ per kwh during off-peak times, and 20.4¢ per kwh during on-peak times.

[this post was last edited: 12/12/2013-14:02]

 

[countryguy]

We have time of use smart meters here so electricity rates depends on the time of day as well as the season. Currently during the winter (Nov.1-Apr.30) the off peak rate (7pm-7am as well as all day weekends and holidays) is 7.2 cents/KWh, midpeak (11am-5pm weekdays) is 10.9 and onpeak (7am-11am, 5pm-7pm weekdays) is 12.9 In the summer months (May1-Oct31) the off peak rate (7pm-7am) was 6.7, midpeak (7am-11am, 5pm-7pm weekdays) was 10.4 and onpeak (11am-5pm) was 12.4 On top of the electricity charge however we also pay a 1) delivery charge which is usually MORE than the actual electricity usuage 2) regulatory charge 3) debt retirement charge 4) taxes. And for the past few months we have received a 10% deduction called the Clean Energy Benefit off the actual electricity usage. My last bill was broken down as follows
1) electricty usage $62
2) delivery charge $67
3) regulatory charge $5
4) debt retirement charge $5.50
5) taxes $18
6) Clean Energy benefit $16-

for a total of approximately $142.

My house is heated with propane but I do have an electric water heater...and I live alone.

Gary

 

[wayupnorth]

Emera/Maine is my electric company. Granted all my lights are floresent, gas stove and oil baseboard heat and hot water for 2000 sq.ft. Only thing on 220 is my dryer that is used sparingly. This months bill was 47.52 for 259 kwh over 31 days. It may go as high as $60 in the dead of summer running the a/c but stays in the $30 ish range spring and fall.

 

[classicguywi]

Just like Polkanut and Gary, we are on time of use as well.

on peak use = 0.26$ per kwhr (7am to 7pm)
off peak use = 0.05$ per kwhr (7pm to 7am)

Our bills for a 1,400 sqft home built in 1965 hover around $70.00 to $100.00 per month depending on the time of year and what is running of course. The higher times being Christmas and apple picking season.

as far as electric appliances go we are running

2 deep freezes (only off peak)
2 refrigerators
1 electric stove
1 electric dryer
1 washing machine
electric supplement heat in master (only off peak)

also have things like
well
sump pump
etc.

Our gas bill if for LP and runs a constant $145.00 a month running
- gas boiler for heat
- gas water heater

I have herd about bills that were extremely high like yours, (my father works for an electric company) they could be related to something as simple as a miss read of the meter, but they could be something like, a transformer going bad, a loose connection in the meter base, NEIGHBOR STEALING POWER. Regardless of the reason I would call your local utility company and have them recheck the meter/ bill and possibly have them check the service out.

 

[passatdoc]

135 sq meters (1200 sq ft), single story, no basement.

Heat: gas-heated forced air ducts (but the fan uses electricity)

Hot Water: gas tank heater

No A/C (don't need it here)

Range: gas oven/cooktop

Second oven: electric Breville Smart oven (countertop convection/toaster; used for small jobs when it's stupid to heat up the large range oven).

FL washer, gas dryer

Aquarium, 90 gallons/350 liters: light canopy uses 108W (2 x 54W T5 high output flourescent bulbs) for ten hours a day. Four pumps using about 75 W combined, so the tank uses 75W at night and 183 W when the canopy is on (timer). THere is a 150W heater as well, but the four pumps generate some heat into the water so that the heater is not on that often.

22.5 cu ct fridge-freezer (ten years old, Frigidaire, meets current energy standards).

Outside of the heating season (used to be Nov-March, but I installed double pane windows and this year, despite colder than average temperatures, the furnace did not need to be used until this week), the separate gas and electric bills are as follows:

Gas: $12-14
Electric: $36

The above are for fall and spring, when there is no heating and no need for fans in the house

In winter, both numbers rise because it takes both gas and electricity to heat the house:

Gas: $24-30
Electric: $42-48

In summer, gas remains low, but electricity rises due to need to use fans (no A/C though):

Gas: $12
Electric $40

Electricity here works out to about $0.145 per KWh. Some of the bill is for taxes, fees, and distribution costs (i.e. is a constant even if you use NO electricity) but dividing the bill by the KWh used usually averages 14-15 cents/KWh used.

I could reduce the energy use of the aquarium by using an LED light canopy. These units are still expensive, about $320 for one suitable for my tank, vs. the $140 paid for the HO flourscent canopy. Note: it's salt water, but fish only/live rocks. Does not have any coral or other invertebrates that need high lighting intensity. An LED canopy would use about 48W, saving about 60 W/hour or 0.600 KWh per day, or 18 KWh per month, or 252 KWh per year (about $40/year, but also there is the $35/year cost of replacing the HO bulbs at yearly intervals, so a new canopy would save $75/year and pay for itself in 4-5 years. There is also the bonus of not imparting as much heat into the water, which helps in summer).

 

[DADoES]

 
To further clarify my details:

2,550 sq. ft. brick-veneer house, 9 years old. 9' ceilings, 10' in living room and master bedroom.

All-electric.  5-ton (60,000 BTU), 1-speed, 12 SEER heat pump.  Water well & aerobic septic system.  Refrigerator in unheated/uncooled garage.  Bunches of electronics (appliances, A/V equipment including plasma TV, computers).  One computer runs 24/7, another runs somewhat less, one laptop on continual charging.  All appliances are EnergyStar (except the garage refrigerator) but are 9+ years old.  Some lighting is CFL but probably less than half.  Electric tankless water heater.

 

[jerrod6]

I live in an older home, don't know the Sq footage but it is 3 story, 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom with NG heater, hot water, and cooktop - oven is electric.

Electric bill in winter averages $112 a month winter - summer $250