Just a lil worry: Electric Bill

[dmpteacher]

Well, I know it was switched to my name on 11/19 cause I did that myself.

After reading a lot of these responses, I WISH I had 2 different units for each level, but I guess for 1200 sq. ft, they didn't feel it necessary. I guess I should look on the bright side, at this rate, I should have a really low bill for summer!!!

 

[LisaNJ25]

Well, I know it was switched to my name on 11/19 cause I did that myself.

After reading a lot of these responses, I WISH I had 2 different units for each level, but I guess for 1200 sq. ft, they didn't feel it necessary. I guess I should look on the bright side, at this rate, I should have a really low bill for summer!!!

until you turn the air on

 

[lillygator]

I wish my bill was 254!
...

yep - ours runs 4-500!

 

[Miss Mary Poppins]

We had a problem recently with the temp in our home. We called the AC guy and he informed us our thermostat needed replacing...so yours is new construction...maybe they didn't wire it properly?

 

[vicki_c]

I wish my bill was 254!
We've built three homes... def make sure you aren't being charged for any days before settlement... Builder is supposed to contact the electric company, but they don't always...

(I feel your pain fellow MD-er.)

Also OP you said you couldn't get in for 2 weeks - so that's 2 weeks after you had the bill changed to your name and then it was really hot when you did get in? If I understood right? If that's correct, I was wondering if the builders possibly left the heat up so high to try and dry anything out (I'm not a builder, but I thought they did that sometimes - to dry paint, plaster, etc.). Then if you didn't move in for 2 weeks and the heat was on very high all that time ...

Also, with the programmable thermostats - there is a limit to how many degrees difference between day / night (we no longer turn it down during the day since I work at home but we used to do that too) or else it doesn't really save you the money it should. Here's an article in which they say the difference should be "a few" degrees, not 10 or 15. Most people I know don't follow that, but we don't have ours change by more than about -10 at night.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4584602_save-money-not-lose-money.html

If you make the difference between the temps too great, the furnace actually works harder to get it back up to the temperature.

 

[dmpteacher]

(I feel your pain fellow MD-er.)

Also OP you said you couldn't get in for 2 weeks - so that's 2 weeks after you had the bill changed to your name and then it was really hot when you did get in? If I understood right? If that's correct, I was wondering if the builders possibly left the heat up so high to try and dry anything out (I'm not a builder, but I thought they did that sometimes - to dry paint, plaster, etc.). Then if you didn't move in for 2 weeks and the heat was on very high all that time ...

Also, with the programmable thermostats - there is a limit to how many degrees difference between day / night (we no longer turn it down during the day since I work at home but we used to do that too) or else it doesn't really save you the money it should. Here's an article in which they say the difference should be "a few" degrees, not 10 or 15. Most people I know don't follow that, but we don't have ours change by more than about -10 at night.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4584602_save-money-not-lose-money.html

If you make the difference between the temps too great, the furnace actually works harder to get it back up to the temperature.

Thank you for that article!! I never knew that. However, there's only a 6 degree difference max that I change it. I might just keep it at 68 when I'm here and 65 when I'm gone. I've noticed my dogs hanging out upstairs this week (I'm home on vacation), so I'm wondering if 62 is too cold for them.

As for the 2 weeks that I wasn't living here. That was totally my fault. I moved things in the day after I closed. I didn't actually live here though for 2 weeks because I had no furniture, so I never dealt with the thermostat. I didn't notice how hot it was until I stayed here that first night.
I'm just really hoping that after this month of "experimenting" my bill will be lower for Dec./Jan.

 

[oldbay]

What type of furnace/heating system do you have? I only ask because in my townhouse we had a furnace that had levers in the ductwork that came off the furnace. You can easily adjust these to control how much of the hot air went to the first floor or the second floor of the home. If the levers on yours are sending most of the hot air upstairs this will make the 65/68 degrees you set the temperature at on the lower level much hotter upstairs as most of your heat is going to the wrong place. You need to adjust the levers so the heat goes to the first floor and then rises to the second floor. In the summer months, this has to be switched for the a/c.

 

[chellt]

yep - ours runs 4-500!

HOLY MOLY!!! Mine runs 50-100. One month last winter it was $16!!! I about have a stroke when it gets up near 100!

 

[cbg1027]

It hard to gauge what your bill SHOULD be when you haven't even lived there through a complete billing cycle.

I would wait at least one, but more like two billing cycles before you start panicking.

If they are still high in 2 months here's my suggestion:

Try 67 instead of 68, and 63 instead of 64. That one degree over a whole month will make a huge impact.

Make sure your HVAC filter is clean and not impeding the air flow. A dirty filter forces the system to work harder in order to move the air.

Check your hot water heater and set it in the mid-range.

Check your fridge and freezer and make sure they are set on the mid-range and not the coldest possible setting.

Only run full loads in the dishwasher and turn off the heated drying if possible. When it's done washing I just open the door a bit so things air dry.

Only run full loads in the clothes washer using cold water.

Hang things to dry if you can. Make sure the lint trap is cleaned after every load.

Find out what similar townhomes energy bills are running. My utility company has a feature on their website where you can look up any address and see what the bills were for the last year and how much energy was used.

Call your utility company and find out if they offer energy audits. Mine offers free energy audits. They come out and inspect the house and tell you if there's anything significant you can to decrease energy consumption. My house had sub-par attic insulation and the company provided me with a grant that covered 75% of the cost of upgrading my insulation.

 

[djbleach]

If it's a heat pump system and new construction. Make sure that the thermostat is hooked up correctly. I had a friend who had a new system installed and they hooked it up wrong.
So when the heat came on......It was ALWAYS , auxillary or emeregency heat. If this is the case and the system is always using "backup" heat, your bill will stay high.
I've herd you are better to leave the setting at one place. Like 68degrees. Supposed to be better for the system. Also, Is your fan on auto or run?

And comparing it to your mom's 50 y/o house. They don't make things like they use to . Her house was probably built better than your new town house. She's probably had to do some improvements over the years.
We built our house, and I wish I would have spent the extra money for better windows and insulation.
Like the old saying....Pay me know or pay me later....

 

[Muushka]

I'm not sure if this was addressed, but here goes:

We have a 1850 SF house with 2 large bedrooms and a bath on the second floor (which we rarely use). In addition to shutting off the vents, we also had our heating/AC guy install dampers on the tubes (or what ever they are called) that come out of the heating system. That way the heat/AC does not even travel to the second floor. In the winter time, when the heat rises, it is a real money saver. Also, we keep all 3 doors up there shut.

If we have company, we do go to the basement and open the dampers up. Not that much trouble and saves a lot of fuel. Good luck!

 

[Pamlur]

Since you have one unit for your house, here's what I strongly recommend. Call the heating and a/c company, and have them come "balance" your ductwork. They will install dampers in the ductwork and turn them slightly so that more air is directed where you need it. Have them direct more air downstairs for now, obviously since heat rises. Then when Summer comes, you can decide if you want more cool air upstairs or if you are okay with the way it is. My house is large, I have several zones, and even in the ones that are all downstairs, I have some rooms getting more/less heat/air. It really makes a difference.

Yes, you'll have to pay them to do it, but it will be very worth it. I worked for a hvac company when I was much longer; worked in the office but still picked up tidbits, and this is one that stuck with me through the years.

LOL! PP was posting the same thing, while I typed.

 

[Muushka]

Since you have one unit for your house, here's what I strongly recommend. Call the heating and a/c company, and have them come "balance" your ductwork. They will install dampers in the ductwork and turn them slightly so that more air is directed where you need it. Have them direct more air downstairs for now, obviously since heat rises. Then when Summer comes, you can decide if you want more cool air upstairs or if you are okay with the way it is. My house is large, I have several zones, and even in the ones that are all downstairs, I have some rooms getting more/less heat/air. It really makes a difference.

Yes, you'll have to pay them to do it, but it will be very worth it. I worked for a hvac company when I was much longer; worked in the office but still picked up tidbits, and this is one that stuck with me through the years.

LOL! PP was posting the same thing, while I typed.

Oh good! We agree!

 

[Debbie7452]

yep - ours runs 4-500!

I guess it's not funny to the OP, but it's hard to understand how they could predict a bill of 50-100/month in winter for any home. $254 we would leap for joy and do a dance, too. I have a bigger home, 3800 sf. but last year we had a bad cold snap (which is rare here down south) and we ran the "emergency heat" on our heat pumps (2). Below a certain temperature the heat pumps just don't heat very well....Big Mistake!! We got a surprise bill for $1200 the next month

We called the electric company and had everything checked and had to pay it, it was correct. I have vowed to freeze to death before I will use my the emergency heat again. If the kids complain, we will get out the mittens and scarves. So far this year has not been that cold, luckily.

 

[Muushka]

I guess it's not funny to the OP, but it's hard to understand how they could predict a bill of 50-100/month in winter for any home. $254 we would leap for joy and do a dance, too. I have a bigger home, 3800 sf. but last year we had a bad cold snap (which is rare here down south) and we ran the "emergency heat" on our heat pumps (2). Below a certain temperature the heat pumps just don't heat very well....Big Mistake!! We got a surprise bill for $1200 the next month

We called the electric company and had everything checked and had to pay it, it was correct. I have vowed to freeze to death before I will use my the emergency heat again. If the kids complain, we will get out the mittens and scarves. So far this year has not been that cold, luckily.

We have dual fuel on our system. Heat pump is electric and is the normal way the house heats. The emergency or back up is the gas aspect. They both run during the cold times of the year and we are very pleased with the system.

I guess my question to you is, if the heat pump is your emergency, what is your normal heat method?

 

[lovemygoofy]

I lived in TN for almost 10 years and the TVA has some of the highest electric bills I'd ever seen. Our 900 sqft apt could be anywhere from $75-100 a month and more during the winter.

OP, look at the bill and see the amount of extra charges on the bill. There is probably at least $30 in service fees, handling fees, and other fees in your bill. They will forever be in your bill and if it's a really hot summer expect the fees to go up even further.

I would suggest you start unplugging things or putting things on sleep mode like your pc and unplugging the printer.

I have my tv/entertainment center things on a power cord strip which I turnoff every night and whenever I'm not home. If you have things plugged in in a spare bedroom, unplug them if you aren't going to use them.

Go through every room and think about everything plugged in and when or if you even use it on a regular basis.

You can also call your eletric company to come out and do an energy audit about where the most electric is being used or wasted.

 

[jmpellet]

Someone I work with had the same problem when he first moved in to his new home. He was hardly ever home and had outrageous (for our area) electric bills. Come to find out his electric was swapped with one of the neighbors who was home all the time. The was a single family home even!

 

[ccgirl]

I, too, would love that bill. My electric (and gas) bills fluctuate dramtically during the seasons. As a result, I go on balanced billing so it is the same every single month. I am not sure if your electric company will do this, especially since it is a new home. But, my electric company looked at my total usage from the previous year and divided that by the 12 months so I pay the same ($176) for every month. No more surprise $500 bills!

 

[Nicolepa]

Someone I work with had the same problem when he first moved in to his new home. He was hardly ever home and had outrageous (for our area) electric bills. Come to find out his electric was swapped with one of the neighbors who was home all the time. The was a single family home even!

I'm not 100% sure, but I think this happened to me when I was in college, only reverse. I can't remember how much I had bugeted for my heat. It was something really low, like $50 a month. I rarely turned the heat on. The first month my bill was like $35, so I bumped the heat up a bit. No change really. The next month I bumped it up higher, the neighbor's moved out. My bill was $20. The next month I didn't worry about the heat. I turned it off I wasn't home, but I was toasty warm when I was. $20

 

[Pamlur]

Somewhere in your house, according to the builder's website, there is supposed to be an "energy monitor" to tell you "in real time" how much electricity you are using. Have you found that monitor, and does it tell you anything at all?