BGE bill

[maedelken]

I need help! My BGE bill was 520 this month. Can anyone tell what to do? What should I have my temp set at, what are big energy drainers? Please give me tips and if I take actions will I see a difference? My electric part was 421. I would like to get the total bill down to 300 is that possible?

 

[semo233]

Long story short, I was paying way too much for an electric bill and finally someone at the Elect company advised I do:

Shut off every circuit in the house. Turn one on and run outside to where your meter is. Take notice of how fast the numbers change. Then go back inside, shut off that circuit and turn on the next. Go back outside and watch the meter again. By doing one circuit at a time, you can narrow down what the problem is.

We found that it was our well pump. The pipe up from the well had a crack in it and our pump was running 24 hrs a day!!

 

[HM]

We set our air at 79 in the summer and 68 in the winter.

Unplug any appliances you have plugged in. Only plug them in when you use them. They do drain electricity even when you aren't using them. We put our TV and games/DVD etc on surge protectors so that they can be turned off when we are done using them without having to reach back and unplug each time.

Get compact flourescent bulbs in all your lamps.

Close all the curtains/shades on the windows that face the sun so that you aren't adding heatin to your house through your windows.

Make sure all your filters in your intakes are clean or replace.

Only run your dishwasher when it's full and only run your washer and dryer when they are too.

If your water heater is electric, take shorter showers, cut out baths.

Make sure all your air vents are uncovered and open all the way. Don't place furnishings over them.

Hope some of this helps!

 

[kcdoodles80]

Wow! We live in a townhome in Catonsville and our bill was oly 170 this month. It gets up to 400 in the winter though. I feel for you - BGE is the worst, sometimes I close my eyes before opening the bill!

I need help! My BGE bill was 520 this month. Can anyone tell what to do? What should I have my temp set at, what are big energy drainers? Please give me tips and if I take actions will I see a difference? My electric part was 421. I would like to get the total bill down to 300 is that possible?

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I'm not sure what your weather is like there, are you running AC? If so you can try bumping the temp up one or two degrees.

Also try to use your oven the least you can get by with, cook with a slow cooker and microwave instead, or make more cold meals.

Hang your clothes up to dry.

If your water heater is electric, wash your clothes in cold water and turn off the breaker for the water heater when you're on vacation and during the day when you don't need hot water.

Try to keep your fridge full and reduce how much time you spend with the door open. The same with the freezer.

If you have a deep freeze that has extra space in it fill some empty milk cartons 3/4 full with water and freeze them. That will also help keep food cold if your power goes out.

 

[maedelken]

We live in Catonsville too. We live in Oakforest now. We used to live in a townhouse oh boy the bill was so much better. We live in a three story house now. Last month it was 350. Is it possible to jump up like that?

 

[mikehn]

Was that bill based on an actual meter reading or was it an estimated bill? You are gonna have to make lifestyle changes to bring a $500 bill down to $300.

 

[kittylady1972]

Yikes I know the feeling. Ours jumped up $100 this month alone and I KNOW the culprit for us is the washer/dryer which I run almost every day thanks to the kids having swimming twice a day at summercamp. I've decided we need to do more hanging to dry and wash only every other day or so if necessary.

You got some great tips already. Unplugging appliances when not in use is a good one as is changing your light bulbs to more energy efficient ones. We have a programmable thermostat in our house so we keep the temps higher during the day when we aren't home, and drop them at night when energy costs are cheaper.

Our bill was about $315 this month and we live in a 2800sq foot house.

 

[kcdoodles80]

Really! I live off Edmondson Ave - right across from Academy Heights! I'd have BGE come and check it out just to put my mind at ease!

We live in Catonsville too. We live in Oakforest now. We used to live in a townhouse oh boy the bill was so much better. We live in a three story house now. Last month it was 350. Is it possible to jump up like that?

 

[maedelken]

I just saw your sig we are going to be at PORS sept 20th-27th.

 

[kcdoodles80]

OMG - how crazy is that

I just saw your sig we are going to be at PORS sept 20th-27th.

 

[CowboyCO]

Get a programmable thermostat. I bought one at Home Depot for $25 and I saved more than that the first month. I keep it at 58 overnight, up to 72 for two hours and then 58 until 5:00, then up to 72 until 9:00pm.

I've saved about 30 percent on my gas bill in the winter. No A/C in the summer. Living at 8,500 feet has it's advantages. Of course it is also in the 40's at night around here in the summer...

 

[Todd&Copper]

DANG! That is high! Ours was $5 last month (obviously a mistake), so I knew this month would be much bigger, but it was just under $300. We have a 2400 sq ft house on a rather wooded lot.

We set the thermostat at 76 and we have a new central a/c unit (purchased last year) that has cut our usage quite a bit. I also only run full loads of laundry and full loads in the dishwasher.

Good luck in reducing your bill!

 

[kittylady1972]

I think this is the month (August) where we are all supposed to get that MD Energy Credit back on our bill right? So with any luck for you it won't really be that high next month!

SORRY, my mistake. It looks like that $170 credit will be in September, just right before my very own Disney trip! More money for us to spend there!

 

[irish_trip_mom]

We also live in Catonsville, in Foxhall Farm. We do budget billing, and ours is $274/month for approx. 3000 sq. ft. I do keep the house warmer during the day in the summer when we are at the pool and cooler in the winter when the kids are at school (I suck it up and freeze!)

We do energy efficient bulb, smart outlets for the pc's/tvs.

 

[sherreis]

We live in Carroll County in a 2200 sq ft and our BGE bill was $258 last month.
--I don't use the oven very much, especially, on hot, humid days. I love my electric pressure cooker!
--We've raised the thermostat to 76 on most days and it's been tolerable.
-- We put in an attic fan which has made a huge impact because upstairs is quite comfortable now. Before that, we would have to lower the temp on the A/C to cool upstairs.
--I keep curtains closed in the daytime for the windows with southern exposure.
--I keep toaster, coffee pot ,etc. unplugged when not in use
--we try to get the dishwasher when it's done and not let it go through the dry cycle for 30 minutes
--we've switched to fluorescent bulbs when our old lightbulbs die
--we've changed the settings on the water heater
--we only wash in cold water
--we take a lot of our stuff out of the dryer when it's damp and hang it up to finish drying
--ceiling fans in some rooms to circulate the air

I can't imagine having over $500 bill. Yikes Try calling BGE and ask if they'll come out and do an energy audit.

As for Catonsville, I used to work there - that does count? I used to work at St. Agnes.

 

[LadyyRedd]

I feel for you. Out of all the power companies in the DC area, my bill was always highest when I had BGE and I lived in the smallest of my houses at that time!

Kimya

 

[disney1990]

I hate BG&E.

We live in Bowie. We have our temperature set on 80 degrees. We have switched to all CFL bulbs. We unplug things like cell phone chargers when we aren't using them and turn off the computer and printer when not in use.

Our last bill was $170 for electricity only.

 

[maedelken]

I think this is the month (August) where we are all supposed to get that MD Energy Credit back on our bill right? So with any luck for you it won't really be that high next month!

SORRY, my mistake. It looks like that $170 credit will be in September, just right before my very own Disney trip! More money for us to spend there!

When are you going in sept we will be there the 20th - 27th. I am surprised about how many people live in Maryland.

So I went around last night unplugged everything. Lectured my husband about turning out the lights (he is bad). I put the thermostat at 76. I am going to change the bulbs when they burn out. I hope this helps. Thanks for all the advice. How do they expect people to live. I just needed to vent. I am stressed.

 

[Yensid_MD]

Is it possible that your last couple of readings were estimates and that the current one was an actual? I know this is how it is for us. Sometimes it is a good surprise sometimes it stinks.

Raising the temp or lowering it depending on temp to make it more affordable is the easiest thing to do. Turn off the lights except the room you are in. Pull down shades curtains as suggested previously. These are all things you can do without investing any extra money. Other suggestions are good, but will cost you money up front as far as lightbulbs, timers, but those will work to.