Anyone worried about summer utility bills?

[lillygator]

we've had the air on since late march early april I think....hopefully I can manage with the temp it is set at now - 74, but being pg and the hottest months coming up, who knows??
Good luck to all, hopefully our costs will remain flat!

 

[sk!mom]

Actually, DH and I were just discussing that our electric bill is the one thing that is less today than 10 years ago.

Since we are allowed to choose our own provider, we have changed every Spring to whoever has the lowest rate on www.powertochoose.org. We then lock it in for a year.

We live in the sunny Southwest where every Summer is hot, hot, hot but our per kwh is the lowest we've ever paid.

 

[momof1princess]

the thought of opening next month's power bill terrifies me. this month's bill was $99 and change, and that was before the a/c started staying on all afternoon in 100+ degree F heat. it's going to be a killer.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

We've had the A/C "on" since April, set at 75-78 degrees. We keep all the blinds closed and have black-out drapes on top of them. We're working on replacing the windows as the house has original ones and it's about 40 years old. We never watch TV during the summer as we're almost always outside (we have a programmable thermostat that sets the temperature higher when we're not there during work or when we're gone all day Saturday/Sunday), that cuts down on the major heat TV's produce (and reduces the power bill). I also try not to use the oven/stove as much as possible. I'm looking at getting a clothes line so I can at least hang the sheets/blankets/towels out there. I'm not as worried about the summer bills as I'm more hot natured than most. It was during the winter when the heat constantly ran and I was always baking/cooking something that I was afraid of opening the power bill!

 

[jmpellet]

I grew up without much and certain not central air. My kids were practically dying last might and we caved and turned it on but we always keep ours set to just rid the house of humidity at like 79 or 80 degrees. When I was a kid (getting old when you start saying this), you sweat period, at home, in the car, etc.

 

[Marionnette]

My older son is home from college for the summer. That means more hot water for showers (electric water heater), more power consumed by computers and TV and more electricity to power the window air conditioning unit in his bedroom which never gets cool enough using just the whole-house air conditioning.

It's a good thing that we're on the budget plan and we are way ahead on the amount paid vs. the amount owed. This summer looks like it's going to be brutal!

 

[mrodgers]

Good luck to the OP and everyone else. Whether AC or heat, these threads pop up every year. I just met a lady who was paying $800 a month to heat her home with oil this winter. Now that's bad!

That was also me in 2008. Our last oil fill with the rising costs was $865. Lasted 1 month on a tank of oil (about 225 gallons used.) That summer we started a huge insulation project, as well as the price of heating oil was cut by 60-70%.

Now we get filled automatically about every 6 weeks and it is usually about 100-120 gallons. Cost wise it is creeping up to the $500 mark again though.

Just like in the winter people would say the couldn't survive with the furnace set at 65 like we do, in the summer there is no way we would survive with the AC set at 78.

We just have a single window unit in our living room because we can't fit units in any other window in the house. I left the AC running all night last night trying to cool down the bedroom, but it didn't work and I was up all night last night sweating. During the day, the window unit cools down the living room/kitchen to about 75-76 when it is 85 outside and it's still hot. After working all day in 105-115 heat and extreme humidity all day long, I don't want to be hot when I'm home.

 

[CdnCarrie]

We have the opposite problem! Our heating costs are through the roof in the winter (January - March especially). Summer - even with the AC turned on - is when we catch up with low utility bills.

 

[book_junkie]

Count me in as completely worried... We're not using the oven AT all- crock pot and microwave and stove all the way, and have thermal curtains over everything, but the windows on our house are all original (1970's), and the central air units (two for some reason when we have 2400 square feet) are not much younger. We've turned the one off completely, and only use the main system, and have programmable thermostats on both that let the house go up to 80 during the day, but it has to go down to 70 at night due to health reasons. We've had close to 100 degree days for the last few days now, and 90s the last few weeks and it's been insane.

And the AC in all our city buildings is set at 75 in cost saving measures, which fluctuates between 77 and 74, which makes it not pleasant.

And we haven't even hit the months that we usually have peak demand and rolling brownouts....

 

[Aisling]

I was looking into the "select your own energy company" option today. Years ago, the only choice was Con Edison for electric and National Grid for natural gas, although for us back then it was called Brooklyn Union Gas Company.

The website has a good comparison. I think I'm going for that option, even if it only saves like $25 a month, but every little bit helps.

No air mattresses. I just started worrying and remembering when I was a kid the only AC was in my parents room and all us 5 kids would sleep on those long pool floats on their floor.

There are a lot of good tips here. ilovemk76, , you have a point that my ACs are old and are probably using more energy than newer ones. I have a lot of energy conservation stuff to do today.

 

[C.Ann]

Budget plan.. It's the only way I can manage the bills here at the lake.. There is no insulation in this place - none - and the windows are as old as dirt..

I run the a/c all night (window unit in the kitchen/living area) - as well as a cool mist humidifier in my bedroom that I require for medical reasons (keeps it very cool in there) - shut both things off first thing in the morning and keep all windows covered - and the door shut.. Just those things alone keep it cold enough in here that I don't even have to turn on the ceiling fan until 3 or 4 in the afternoon (and that's on 90+ degree days!)..

Shut off computers and tv's that are not being used right this second.. (Not "hibernate" mode for the computers - off..) Both items throw off tremendous amounts of heat.. No lights on except those that are absolutely necessary.. If you have rooms you don't use, close them off..

An old trick from when I was a kid - pre a/c days.. Put your pillow cases in zip lock bags - in your freezer - and take them out just before you go to bed and put them on everyones pillows.. Not only will you be very cool, but recently it was scientifically proven that you fall asleep faster when your pillow is cold..

Cool/cold showers - and wash cloths that have been wetted down good, placed in the freezer, and then draped around your neck.. (You could also do the same with head bands and wrist bands..)

A pan of ice in front of a table fan - works just like an a/c..

Drink lots of water.. The more hydrated you are, the less hot you will feel..

Do you have a basement? If you are away from the house all day, you should be able to keep your dog down there and he'll be nice and cool.. No worries about him getting too hot..

And again - I can't stress strongly enough the importance of getting on that budget plan ASAP.. Your first budget will be based on your past 6 months or so of useage - so you want to do it now - before they start to factor in the higher bills with the a/c on it.. Every 3 to 4 months, they will make an adjustment - based on your use for those past 3 to 4 months - but my experience has been that they don't jump radically.. It's really important to do that right now - before you open that first a/c bill that "could" be $600+ !!!!!!

Good luck - you're in good company here - LOL..

 

[lucigo]

I broke down and did something that looks a little tacky. I bought pink Styrofoam insulation sheets and cut them to fit in the front windows, behind the curtains. In the afternoon the front rooms get SO HOT and this has helped. It probably looks a little silly from outside but at this point I just don't care! Yes I wish we could live in a cave!

 

[pospisil]

Well, I work for a utility company, in collections, so yes, I'm always worried about summer utility bills!

 

[si-am]

We just replaced our 27 year old A/C with a brand new unit, so I'm expecting my power bill to drop this year. (fingers crossed)

 

[Belle5]

I broke down and did something that looks a little tacky. I bought pink Styrofoam insulation sheets and cut them to fit in the front windows, behind the curtains. In the afternoon the front rooms get SO HOT and this has helped. It probably looks a little silly from outside but at this point I just don't care! Yes I wish we could live in a cave!

We have 36 windows in our house...big tall windows. Our gameroom upstairs used to feel like a blast furnace...every summer and it would freeze in the winter. Too many windows...not enough insulation...So, DH bought this thick foam insulating board and cut it to the size of each game room window that gets direct sunlight. We went to walmart and bought cheapy white sheets and covered each foam board used a staple gun and duct tape. We tucked each covered board between the window and the 2" blinds that are on each window (the blinds keep the boards from falling on the game room floor).

You would NOT believe how much money this has saved us over the past couple of summers since we made them!!!! Only the white sheet shows from the road...not the duct taped side...that faces the blind/gameroom side and those stay closed so no one ever sees the duct tape.

If you have a really hot room with lots of windows, try this!!!

 

[minnie1928]

When I lived in NJ, I used to use my toaster oven in lieu of my big oven. That way I could put it outside on the deck to cool off instead of it heating up my kitchen.

I also covered all my windows with window tint film. It wasn't cheap, and it took a while, but it did cut my bills. I also massively insulated the attic, installed outlet insulators, and closed off rooms that weren't being used. My heating/AC bills were about 1/2 of what my neighbors bills were.

Now I live in Seattle, where it's only in the mid 60's during the day. No more triple digits for me!!

 

[jms920]

I went to JoAnn Fabric and bought the heavy black out drape lining fabric. I cut a little larger than the size of my bedroom windows (where I get the afternoon sun) and hung it behind the blind and the window with wire ties wrapped around the top of the blind. This works great for me. If I have a nice day and open the window I lift the blind and take the fabric and just fold it up neatly. Then I use some little clips I had to hold it in place. Large paper clips would work too.

I have a 12' window in my livingroom with only sheers on it, which is a problem. I'm going to look into new insulated drapes. otherwise i may just sew pieces of the same lining fabric together and hang them behind the sheers. I'll figure something out and need to do it asap.

BTW we have an RV and I made these "shades" for all the windows. It really helps when at the beach in the summer and it's 100' and the ac unit is trying to keep up. Also when stored at home for sun damage.

JoAnn

 

[Muushka]

If you fear the cost of energy now, please pay attention to the carbon tax and carbon credits. Prices will "necessarily" skyrocket.

 

[disney1990]

Yes, I worry about the electric bill a lot. We searched out another company with a lower rate, we keep out A/C set on 81 degrees and run a ceiling fan in the bedrooms at night to keep the air moving. We close the blinds and the curtains to keep out the sun. So far, our bills haven't been too bad, but we have been right at 100 degrees in DC most of this week.

 

[Irish9697]

I have two central a/c units, one for upstairs, one for down with 3,000 total square feet. About 1,800 down, 1,200 up. Anyway, my current units are AWFUL and with temps that have been 90+ for weeks, they've been running 24/7. They can't keep it below 80 down/83 up in prime daylight. It's cooler at night so we are not miserable. A friend in the business diagnosed my compressors as being near deathbed, so I am replacing those this week. I hope it helps because I just got my first utility bill of the summer...cycle closed on JUNE 8th, mind you, not August 8th...and it was $441. I want to die because we've all sweated inside for the last month!! That is the highest I have ever had this early in 8 years! I may have had one other bill over $400 one time when we had a 100+ degreee heat wave. Buying new units and paying my current bill is severely breaking my summer budget!