About electricity bills

[hoover1100]

Electricity bills

For gas and electricity combined we pay about £90 a month, that's with two people in a 3 bedroom terraced house (one person at home all day). I think the split is about even between gas and electriciy.

Obviously we have no air conditioning given our climate, dishwasher is on perhaps 3-4 times a week, gas central heating/hot water, an average sized fridge/freezer and a second larder fridge only. Oven is electric but hob is gas (oven rarely used). Electric shower pulls 8.5kw when it's on and we have a small tropical aquarium. The washer is on perhaps 5-6 times a week and the dryer once a week in winter, if that.

I don't think we pay too much given our circumstances, but it's hardly cheap either!

We average around 340kwh a month, 10-11kwh a day, which I think is quite a lot, but I can't seem to get it any lower than that!

Matt

 

[mitch]

Interesting thread

I was compelled to see what Georgia Power charges and found this on their site:

Monthly Rate Schedule

WINTER - October through May
First 650 kWh: 5.3312¢ per kWh
650-1000 kWh: 4.5743¢ per kWh
Over 1000 kWh: 4.4904¢ per kWh

SUMMER - June through September

First 650 kWh: 5.3312¢ per kWh
650-1000 kWh: 8.8620¢ per kWh
Over 1000 kWh: 9.1582¢ per kWh

We are on their "Flat Bill" plan which is a contracted monthly amount good for 12 months. Our bill is around $120.00 each month. Living down here, A/C season can be quite long--notice the rates are almost doubled for the summer!!

I would be on the phone with the utility company if I received such a high bill! Perhaps ask your neighbors if their bill was excessive.

 

[whirlcool]

We have a 1500sq ft house(small) and pay $0.84 for electricity. Our last bill was $79.00, our highest summer bill was $102.00. We have a two year old American Standard AC/Furnce that is very high efficiency. We keep the house at 76-77 in the summer and 73 in the winter. The furnace is gas. We pay about $60.00 per month for gas the winter.

Recently electric companies have been adding a $19.95 surcharge to bills where less than 1000 kW are used every month. We average 400-600 kW per month. So what we pay has the $19.95 under use penalty included. What gets me is everyone is urging you to use less electricity and then when you do, you have to pay a "fee" for using so little. [this post was last edited: 12/12/2013-23:02]

 

[mark_wpduet]

1300 Sq Ft single story 3 bedroom 2 full bath home (All Electric) central heat and air (heat pump) from 2004

My power bill is on budget so they average out each month to what I generally use, then the start of the new year, they settle. If you owe more than the average, you pay, if they owe you, they take it off your bill.....My monthly bill is 141 per month, and right now, I have a 75 dollar credit from overpaying...Not sure what this month will be......

I think this year the lowest bill was 80 dollars, and the highest was like 185 or something close to that

 

[wayupnorth]

Conserve and get a Surcharge

Propane dealers are doing that around here because they own your tank. Some call it a rental fee because you dont use enough. Where I live there are lots of seasonal homes and they pay a monthly electric surcharge to Emera Maine to stay hooked up even though nobody will be there until late spring.

 

[supersuds]

Here's a detailed article about Brazilian electric prices. It seems to have been inexpertly translated to English, but the gist is that Brazilian consumer rates are some of the highest in the world.

Electricity Prices in Brazil

The president Dilma Rouseff has recently taken measures in order to reduce the Brazilian power bill – which was one of the most expensive in the world....

thebrazilbusiness.com

 

[rapunzel]

Here in Oz

The interesting thing with energy pricing trends is that for the past 10 years there has been this active drive to get people to reduce their power consumption. Australians have reduced their electricity use to unprecedented levels. We've been encouraged to put solar panels on our roofs and buy energy star rated electrical goods to save energy and, supposedly, "MONEY". Interestingly, the cost of energy has been going up as the use has gone down. Our electricity market was deregulated and private energy companies are price gouging consumers to keep increasing their profits in line with falling demand for their product. Everyone has bought into this BS about living greener and cheaper, when in fact we are paying more than ever before, even though we are using less than ever before. Electricity prices have risen by over 60% in the past 5 years alone and they are projected to rise by another 12% (or $200) every year. So much for energy affordability, living sustainably and sound economic models.

 

[washer111]

Completely Agree with Rapunzel!

This past July, due to the "Carbon Tax," our electricity cost went up another 2-3c to about 26c/KWh. Our usage between our last bill and the same period last year was fairly similar, but the cost had increased over $50.
And unfortunately, not all States and Territories have de-regulated the electricity grid. What this means is we can't get Day/Night rates or cheaper power.

We actually run a smaller and larger refrigerator, plus a smaller and larger freezer - Total yearly cost equalling around $60-70.
Eliminating the larger frost-free freezer ('99 F&P N388. Using about 942KW/h yearly, and still not entirely frost-free!) from that would help immensely - except the smaller freezer isn't large enough, and we prefer to separate human food from pet food (or leftover seafoods for the bin) to reduce odours.
And here is the silly bit. Even replacing our 4 refrigerators and freezers with a single, large SxS or Upside model might reduce the energy consumption by over half, but when you factor in an "average" service life of 10 years, we'd still be several hundred dollars short of paying off the newer machine from the savings. Therefore, we have decided to run our two '99 F&P models into the ground before we replace them.
Surprisingly, the two smaller units are both Chinese (Both using "ZEL" compressors), and both are working perfectly still after 4 years. I'm amazed they haven't caught fire yet (Esp. the R600a unit in the Kitchen!).

Then there's the DishDrawer - where we spend another $3 yearly in water to save $18 in electricity by purging the hot-water lines before starting and before the rinsing phases.
Induction Cooktop (4 hobs: 1 Large, 1 Medium and 2 small), Electric Oven, Vent-hood that is dis-used, several lights, 2 TV's (Plasma + LCD), 1 HP DC5100SFF running 24/7 for my home-server/active directory, several other computers, plus your usual Modem/Telephone.

Plus the A/C, monstrous thing that puts our power bill up about $500 in the height of Summer. Believe it or not, the cost of replacing the unit itself or installing mini-split systems would not be of any benefit to us - at a cost of $20,000 and saving at least half that every year - it would take almost 15 years to pay off the cost, and by then, we probably will have sold the house and moved away, and those "new, efficient" systems would be in-efficient again.

If I can find it, I will attach a funny cartoon over the whole "Smart-Meter" debacle... Will have to be later, since my iPhoto library is backing up at present.

 

[countryguy]

The government of Ontario just announced a few days ago that electricity rates here will rise by 50% in the next 5 years so someone that is paying $130/month now is going to be paying about $190. We had smart meters installed a couple of years ago. I changed my habits so that I do my laundry, run the dishwasher, etc. when the rates are the least expensive yet my electric bill is higher now than it ever was.

Gary

 

[passatdoc]

I'm amazed to see electric rates of 5-6 cents per KWh. Our (San Diego Gas & Electric) rate system is four-tiered, you pay a lower rate on lower tiers. The lowest tier is about 14.5 cents/KWh, tier 2 is 15.5 cents, and then the cost escalates rapidly for tiers 3 and 4. Our lowest tier costs over 50% more than the highest summer tier in Georgia.

I described my housing above, I am alloted 280 KWh/month in summer, 320 KWh in winter. Last bill was 328 KWh so I used up my entire tier 1 allowance and ventured 8 KWh into tier 2. The heat only went on twice during that month. There is some unusual activity in that the bill covered Thanksgiving, which entailed 2-3 days of nonstop cooking, some use of the auxiliary electric (Breville Smart Oven) oven, and the DW was run 2-3 times a day for several days. Also with temps dropping (thermostat is set to 60 F for wake up and evenings, but allowed to drop to 54 F overnight and during the day when no one is home---with the new windows however 58 F is about the lowest it ever gets on a 32 F/0 C night----used to go down to 50-52F on cold winter nights with the old windows), the one luxury of the 90 gallon aquarium may be consuming more electricity to keep the fish at 75 F. I estimate the aquarium uses 20 KWh/month exclusive of heating. It has a 150W electric heater set to 75 F.

FYI for anyone wondering who someone in OC is served by San Diego Gas & Electric: SDGE provides electricity to about six south OC communities, but does not provide gas. In San Diego County, SDGE provides both energy sources and consumers receive a single bill. In southern OC towns served by SDGE, gas comes from the Gas Company of Southern California, which serves most of SoCal minus San Diego County. In the old days there was an independent gas company here know as South Counties Gas Company, which was absorbed into Gas Company of Southern California. In the period following energy deregulation, Sempra Energy Corp acquired both Gas Co of SoCal AND also SDGE, so the parent company of both of these utilities is the now the same---but historically separate, and we still receive separate gas and electric bills. Bear in mind that the vast majority of Gas Co of SoCal customers do NOT receive their electricity from SDGE.

 

[sudsmaster]

I found the rate schedule at PG&E...

It's roughly per KWH:

Tier 1: $.13
Tier 2: $.15
Tier 3: $.31
Tier 4: $.35

Tier 1 is about 300 KWH/month. My bill usually costs as much for Tier 3 as for all the other tiers combined.

There's also a time of day rate plan, which might save some $$$. However since the fridges, freezer, and fish pond pump go 7x24 and can't really be shut down during peak periods, it might be a wash. It's a definite no-no to shut off the pond pump, because the biofilter might start releasing toxins. The well pump basically is already scheduled only to go on during off-peak times, and is for irrigation only. I suppose I could put the chest freezer on a timer.

 

[westie2]

Here is the rates for my city. Since system is city owned and hydro electric have good rates. Only get the adjustments if city has to buy power from outside.

http://siloamsprings.com/departments/electric/elctric_rates.php

 

[davey7]

We have fairly cheap electricity in the Chicago region - my bill is about $20, but around 40-50 in AC season (which I use sparingly).

Not that this excludes heating and laundry as those costs are borne by the building I live in.

 

[thomasortega]

Thanks for all that answered my questions.

Well, i called the power company (in my state it's called COPEL) and they sent a guy to check my meter. It was faster than ordering a pizza.

He checked everything, the meter is running OK (for my desperation) and he checked everything inside my house...

There's nothing wrong about my appliances or the wiring installation...

The problem is with the country I live.... Sadly.

 

[arbilab]

Thomas, you never wrote what your cost per kWh was. Take your bill in USD and divide by kWh. As you see we tend to pay $0.12 to $0.30 from N America to Europe. AUS tends to be high. Some services are higher depending on overall use and clock hours.

We're ALL getting ripped off and manipulated. They know we need it and will pay whatever jackup price they come up with. Yeah it's all about 'green'. And I don't mean conservatism, I mean the color of money.

Remember when things were priced fairly versus what they cost? I do. This ain't then. Everything now is mercenary.

 

[foraloysius]

$0.30 per kWh here.

 

[dj-gabriele]

"they sent a guy to check my meter"

If it works like here, after the check-up and if everything with the meter is on order, you'll be charged an hefty fee! (in the 200€ range over here)

Anyway, arbilab made a good question, what is your power cost per kWh?

Mine is 0,27€/0,38 USD/0,23 GBP/0,42 AUD

 

[MrX]

Here's what I'm paying in Ireland

Natural gas with FloGas : 5.1¢ per kWh

Electricity with Airtricity: 17.89¢ per kWh day time and 8.85¢

1¢ (Euro cents) = 1.37¢ (US cents) at today's rates quoted by Google.

Price includes tax, but excludes standing charge and some other minor charges.

I shop around pretty much once a year for the best deal and at the moment I seem to be doing ok by not 'bundling' i.e. taking two different suppliers. They all seem very keen to get you to signed up to both gas and electricity from the same supplier..

 

[sudsmaster]

It's interesting that once residential usage exceeds about 400 KWH/month, California electric rates meet or exceed typical European rates.

 

[thomasortega]

Dj-Gabriele, you're absolutely correct...

As they didn't find anything wrong in the meter, they charged me a 25 dollar visit tax, that will be added to my next bill.

I just checked the Kw/h price and I almost fainted... I read .10, .12, .15, .17 above... well, Considering a non exact 2.25 exchange rate between Real X American Dollar (it varies 1 or 2 cents for more or for less every day) in dollars, i pay 1.02 (american dollars) per KW/h.

And here we don't have any kind of tiers... no matter if you use only 1kw/h or all the power in the city, the kw/h price is the same. By the way, the real price is 0.32 per Kw/h.... all the rest is a huge list of taxes...

I've never paid attention on this before and thanks to this post you made me look at those tiny numbers in my power bill.

Of course i'm really angry, dissapointed, frustrated, and for a few seconds I forgot my ellegance and shouted several unthinkable bad words right after hitting the "=" button on the calculator.

Not trying to be off topic but externating what i'm feeling right at this moment, Brazil is a beautiful country, we have a wonderful weather, friendly people, lots of green everywhere, breathtaking natural wonders (including one of the 7 wonders of nature, the Iguassu Falls right in my city) the amazing beaches (Rio de Janeiro, Natal, Fortaleza, Recife) Two of the biggest and most modern cities in the world (São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro) and even a 5 million habitant city, our capital, that was entirely built in the middle of nowhere, designed as an airplane (Brasilia, the presidential palace as the cockpit and all the minitries as the wings and other federal buildings as the fuselage).

Yes, we do have the samba, the beautiful women and beautiful men, we have the carnival blah, blah, blah... That's what years of international marketing made people around the world think about us. Ok, it's nice to promote tourism but, not this way. Right on 21st century there are people that still believe that Brazil is a huge jungle, where people live on trees and walk naked on the streets and have monkeys as pets. I will never forget the first day in college. The assistant that was introducing me the campus facilities was speaking slowly, like if i was a retarded and when we passed in front of the restrooms she said " baaathhhhhrrooommmmm no jungle... look... opeeeeennn yes water... close.... no water... wash hands and i said "what?" she thought that i didn't understand what she was trying to say. She finally understood brazilians also live in houses like everywhere in the world when I interrupted her and said that was too obsolete to our usual restrooms "faaaaaauceeeeetttttsssss" in brazilian restrooms have high efficiency faucets with electronic sensors that open the tap simply by putting the hands under it. (note that i spoke that really fast and forcing a posh accent, being really sarcastic, only to make she understand how stupid she was being.
Well, it wasn't her fault... every advertising about Brazil showed only people bathing on waterfalls, our jungles, women wearing bikinis on the beach with huge cocktails served in a decorated pineapple and children drinking water straight from a natural lake and everything backgrounded by samba songs.

Said that, now let's see the real life Brazil. I always knew some things and heard people talking about this but, today for the first time, thanks to this energy price comparison, i could put everything together and... wow... i'm shocked!

Brazil has one of the highest taxes in the world... Not only the income tax but, we have a ton of other taxes, including some redundant taxes. Sometimes, we pay 3, 4, 7 different taxes for the same thing.

With all that money, it's normal to think everything is great, isn't it?

Health is a disaster. education is a disaster, everything is a disaster.

Right now the government is wasting BILLIONS of american dollars building stadiums for the World cup and the olimpic games... While that, poor people die because they don't have hospitals, poor people will be dumb adults because their education is considered THE WORST in the world.

Luckily i never needed any support for the government. But... what would be better for a corrupt government than a dumb population that gets fu***d by the government but still smiling and never complain. Hey, in February we have the carnival, let's celebrate!

Think of a standard worker, with a regular wage.... everybody in Brazil pays 5 FIVE months of work on taxes every year...

Back to the power bill... i decided to get the water bill.... woooooooooow... One of the biggest richness in my country is water. and guess what.... 80% of it's price is... TAX!

Petrol? We have the biggest oil reserve in the world, right under our feet. go to any gas station and you'll see, at the pump, how the government steals us on everything.... The price counter spins much faster than the flow meter. almost 200 american dollars to fill my car's tank and no, i don't drive a truck.

I thought everything was about profit, companies trying to get everything they could from us... Now I see.... NO! it's our government...

Let's buy a washing machine? but as were rich, let's get the most expensive model on market.... Brastemp Vantage, which is exactly the same Whirlpool Vantage made in the U.S. well, money isn't the problem for us, is it? so, let's pay 8 thousand dollars for the washer and 7 thousand dollars for the dryer. Very expensive huh? NO... the machine is cheap... something around 700 dollars... everything else is tax.

Want a juice? Orange juice... Brazil is the biggest orange producer in the world.. most of our production is sold to the U.S.... and guess what... brazilian orages cost a few cents in any american supermarket... the same bag of oranges costs more than 5 dollars... same with coffee, onions, beans, soybeans, meat, milk, etc.
I go to the supermarket every two weeks and shop for four. I rarely buy expensive or fancy foods, wine, etc but... only with regular food, some cleaning products, personal care items, well, the usual for averybody, i spend something around 600 american dollars each time. No, I don't fill 2 or 3 shopping carts... only the basic.

Maybe today was the first time I could see beyond my belly. I'm not a millionaire and I'm also not arrogant but, as i never had to worry about public services, living in this personal "protection bubble" with a perfect life, my own house, my own car and never needed a public hospital or a public school and with money enough for everything i need for my life, i couldn't realize how hard things can be for those who weren't as lucky as I was. I can be considered above the middle class line and didn't even knew it.
Summer in Brazil is terrible. It's hot as hell. I can have my A/Cs running all the time needed to keep my comfort. And what about those people that can't afford such absurd bill?

Sad... simply sad... For the first time i could understand why so many Brazilians (including highly graduated engineers, doctors prefer to runaway to other countries and work as cleaners or pizza delivery guys.

Well, I HATE carnival. I prefer to keep working hard so I can pay my bills. Sorry for so long posting.