You think you're electric bill was high?

Fliger · 07/24/2006, 06:31 PM

Man its gettin bad in California. Buy real estate, we might see another flood of Californians coming .....

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=1

I am hovering about $300-$325 so far this summer which really isn't bad considering.

vanmle · 07/24/2006, 07:14 PM

Mine is about that. Luckily, haven't gone up much since I got my tank.

Van.

random_ryan · 07/24/2006, 07:36 PM

I pay $400 a month mine has gone up quite abit

Freed · 07/24/2006, 07:40 PM

So I just found out today that I have the option of getting an off peak/on peak meter and off peak price per kilowatt is 1.09 cents compared to on peak at 11.05 per kilowatt. What do you think I'm going to do?

corivus · 07/24/2006, 07:43 PM

hmmm mine went up from $120 to $350 this month then again my roomate decided to drop the temp 2 degree's as well. thats a slightly frightening idea since I'm considering going to ca possibly next year if my g/f gets into stanford

lhoo · 07/24/2006, 08:28 PM

mine just about doubled this month from 2 months ago.

Fliger · 07/24/2006, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lhoo
mine just about doubled this month from 2 months ago.

Mine too. I pay about $120 in the winter and about $300 in the summer. Reefers really need the peak hour program and need to be aware of it. I also replace most of my incandescents with fluorescent bulbs - you can get six pack contractor packs at HD for $10. So worth it, they use a fraction of the electricity and last a lot longer. They also don't look yellow like standard bulbs.

Freed · 07/24/2006, 08:55 PM

Well, I just did some more checking and found out that I was given the wrong info... go figure. Regular billing gives me the 1st 200 kwh for .07954 cents per kwh. The next 300 kwh gives me something like .0543 cents per kwh and each additional from there is only .04 cents per kwh. I'm sticking with the billing I have now I guess.

aztbs · 07/24/2006, 09:28 PM

Mine is only $200 a month on the managed payment plan so far (the kind where you pay the same thing every month year round). I just picked up a chiller so that I can stop keeping the house at 79degrees 'round the clock.

If you look in the Bay Area forum, so many of them have been losing power for days at a time and they are paying $500 or more a month for that privilege. I have a generator that I could run the tank on for a while, but I have to be home to hook it up.

I get the flourescent bulbs at Sam's Club in the big packs and have replaced all the lights in the house (even the outside floods). We are putting in double pane windows soon and will probably have some more insulation blown in the attic. I would cry if I got a $500 electric bill.

ADA33 · 07/24/2006, 09:38 PM

What am I doing wrong mine was 540 last month

clintrandall · 07/24/2006, 10:01 PM

A lot of it has to do with your air conditioner too. I'm at 174 per month on the payment plan and I keep the house at 77 or so. Our A/C unit is only two years old so I think it really helps. It would be about $250 right now if I wasn't on the plan.

aztbs · 07/24/2006, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by widefx
What am I doing wrong mine was 540 last month

Well, what are you doing? How big is your house, how many tanks do you run, what temp do you keep it at, how good is your insulation, how often do you come in and out, do you have a huge family and run the washer/dryer a lot? There are sooooo many things that can drive the bill up.

I would start with your appliances. A/C units are the worst, maybe an upgrade is in order? May pay for itself in a few years. Fridge, dishwasher, etc. One of those little Kill-a-Watt meters could be helpful in diagnosing the problem. They are not too expensive.

Back when I lived in TX, I had a super high bill and the electric company actually loaned me a meter for a while to figure out the source of the draw. Turned out to be a rediculous water bed heater pad just sucking energy. Hope you find the prob, that is a high bill!!!

vanmle · 07/24/2006, 10:21 PM

Electricity the summer months are pretty expensive in AZ. My electricity bill is 80% higher this month than it was in May. Mostly it is my A/C and pool pumps that cause this large increase in electricity bill. July and August are the worst.

However, I have the on peak/off peak billing cycle, and I can't be happier. Last year I had a 60 gallon tank, and this year I have a 180 gallon tank, and I am paying $60 less in electricity this month than the same month last year while using more electricity since I changed my lighting from day to night. Removed an AMP Master 3000 and replaced it with two tunzes. Everything is pretty much the same.

I also just got a brand new efficient A/C unit for the main living area of my house. Old A/C used 30 AMPs at its max. New A/C 19 AMPs. The new A/C actually cools the house down faster. Gotta love technology.

Fliger · 07/24/2006, 10:29 PM

If I didn't watch what I was doing mine would easily be over $500. I have a large house with multiple ac units. Pool, tank, beer fridge in the garage. We counted once and we have close to 100 bulbs inside alone and many more outside. Trying to be cognizant of the peak hours and replacing the incandescents has been huge. Also putting the AC units on controlled timers has been great. I swear though, homes in AZ come with too many multi-bulb fixtures, its crazy!

Philwd · 07/24/2006, 10:44 PM

We are on SRP's plan where you pay the same every month. Right now its about $360. But my wife loves the house at 75. So I pay for it.

Freed · 07/24/2006, 10:52 PM

vanmle, do the figures I posted up above look about right? Something just doesn't make any sense if they are going to charge less than a hundredth of a penny per kwh if I'm not on the on peak/off peak but charge me almost 2 cents during off peak and 11 cents on peak if I have the meter for on peak/off peak hours. Thanks.

clkwrk · 07/24/2006, 11:27 PM

NO comment

rwessels · 07/24/2006, 11:38 PM

$550 this month for me..... damn 2 story house and 2100 watts of lights.

clkwrk · 07/24/2006, 11:43 PM

I feel better know with my 489

but thats 10 halides ,2 chillers , house a/c ect. 1100 sqft

Philwd · 07/24/2006, 11:47 PM

Mine includes a 2 story 3500 sq ft space with a huge vaulted area to cool. Wish I never got that feature.

joeyf · 07/24/2006, 11:52 PM

If you have an older fridge this is something to consider...

A fridge that is 10 years old, on average uses about 10x the electricity as a new fridge that has today's energy star qualification on it. Also A/C units are the same way. If you are looking for a new A/C units, look for ones with higher SEER/EER ratings (9.5 or higher). The one on the house that we were renting up until next week has an 11.something SEER rating and it makes a difference. Unfortunately the house we bought is about 8 years old and the A/C units are the originals, so the two of them are gonna cost quite a bit to cool the 2500sqf 2 story. This is just some very basic info that I've picked up from when I sold appliances up until a month ago.

If anyone has any ??'s on appliances LMK, I probably know more about appliances (except for waterheaters and large A/C's) than I do about reefkeeping, and I've been in the hobby for over 3 1/2 years.

Also, I agree with Fliger, the flouro bulbs make a big difference overall. They use about 11-13w on average vs. 40-75w, produce less heat, and last about 10x longer. Figure a 4 pack of 40w cost $1 and a single flouro costs about $2 (when bought in a bulk pack) not a bad deal.

grenaria · 07/25/2006, 01:02 AM

Costco on 44th St and Thomas has an instant rebate on all the incandescent replacement flourescent bulbs. I don't remember the price exactly but an 8 pack of the 60W replacements (13W) were about $6. They also have 100W, R30, R40, and PAR38 replacements with huge instant rebates. They said they don't know when the program will end, but they've had it for like 2 months now. The rebate is sponsered by APS, the Tempe Costco said they dont have it because they're on SRP power

.

Also I agree about the AC SEER, I have a 13 SEER Trane that I had installed before I bought my house. Was well well worth the investment, and has probably already paid for itself.

After all that, I'm still up at almost $500/month right now though.

vanmle · 07/25/2006, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Freed
vanmle, do the figures I posted up above look about right? Something just doesn't make any sense if they are going to charge less than a hundredth of a penny per kwh if I'm not on the on peak/off peak but charge me almost 2 cents during off peak and 11 cents on peak if I have the meter for on peak/off peak hours. Thanks.

That sounds about right. I do all of my laundry and heavy AC use during off-peak times. At night, I turn my AC down to 74 to cool the house and up to 80 during the day. Keeps things pretty nice.

I agree with getting higher efficient AC units and refridgerators. I can't believe I am actually glad that my old AC broke so I can get a new and more efficient one.

edit: on weekends, electricity is also dirt cheap.

sidewinder770 · 07/25/2006, 08:51 AM

The managed payment plan is a good option if you want a fairly consistent bill all year. Personally I'd rather just "suck it up" for the summer rates and have a break the rest of the year. My current bill is $400 but I guess that's not too bad considering.

mike89t · 07/25/2006, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fliger
Mine too. I pay about $120 in the winter and about $300 in the summer. Reefers really need the peak hour program and need to be aware of it. I also replace most of my incandescents with fluorescent bulbs - you can get six pack contractor packs at HD for $10. So worth it, they use a fraction of the electricity and last a lot longer. They also don't look yellow like standard bulbs.

I did that a couple of months ago. Except I got mine from Costco.

Also I think they put out less heat than the incandescents.

07/24/2006, 06:31 PM	#1
Fliger Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 8,642	You think you're electric bill was high? Man its gettin bad in California. Buy real estate, we might see another flood of Californians coming ..... http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=1 I am hovering about $300-$325 so far this summer which really isn't bad considering. __________________ Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional. Closed minds should come with closed mouths. When life hands you lemons, add vodka! Current Tank Info: Current: 210G Elos System, 2x400W + 6x54W Photon w/Aquaconnects, H&S skimmer, Deltec FR509/ROWAphos+Elos Carbon, 6101's and 6201's, Ocean GEOtronic 900 Chiller/Heater, Biotopus II Controller w/SMS. Elos System 70.

07/24/2006, 07:36 PM	#3
random_ryan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: West Mesa "still a west sider" Posts: 4,427	I pay $400 a month mine has gone up quite abit __________________ Has no one to play with, all of my imaginary friends are in timeout or grounded! Current Tank Info: NO TANKS. :o( .... Taking A Break.

07/24/2006, 07:40 PM	#4
Freed It's what it's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 41° 2' 45" N 85° 8' 43" W Posts: 7,579	So I just found out today that I have the option of getting an off peak/on peak meter and off peak price per kilowatt is 1.09 cents compared to on peak at 11.05 per kilowatt. What do you think I'm going to do? __________________ Freed Current Tank Info: 180gal(1120 watts of MH/VHO light), 60gal "sump", Deltec 601 calcium reactor, Euro Reef CS8-3+ skimmer, 20 gallon QT

07/24/2006, 08:55 PM	#8
Freed It's what it's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 41° 2' 45" N 85° 8' 43" W Posts: 7,579	Well, I just did some more checking and found out that I was given the wrong info... go figure. Regular billing gives me the 1st 200 kwh for .07954 cents per kwh. The next 300 kwh gives me something like .0543 cents per kwh and each additional from there is only .04 cents per kwh. I'm sticking with the billing I have now I guess. __________________ Freed Current Tank Info: 180gal(1120 watts of MH/VHO light), 60gal "sump", Deltec 601 calcium reactor, Euro Reef CS8-3+ skimmer, 20 gallon QT

07/24/2006, 10:01 PM	#11
clintrandall Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 1,137	A lot of it has to do with your air conditioner too. I'm at 174 per month on the payment plan and I keep the house at 77 or so. Our A/C unit is only two years old so I think it really helps. It would be about $250 right now if I wasn't on the plan. __________________ "The nudi got caught in a pump - he's gone The wrasse last night jumped to the floor he's now on I dropped a large rock on my frag of frogspawn Yet I can't stop reefing - what stuff am I on?" Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef ~ 75lbs LR ~ 250W 14kMH + 2 x 96w PC ~ 2 Hydor K4's ~ ASM G2 ~ Socal creations sump(they rock!)

07/24/2006, 07:14 PM	#2
vanmle Moved On Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 2,732	Mine is about that. Luckily, haven't gone up much since I got my tank. Van.

07/24/2006, 07:43 PM	#5
corivus Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Tempe, AZ Posts: 1,126	hmmm mine went up from $120 to $350 this month then again my roomate decided to drop the temp 2 degree's as well. thats a slightly frightening idea since I'm considering going to ca possibly next year if my g/f gets into stanford

07/24/2006, 08:28 PM	#6
lhoo Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ (Ahwatukee) Posts: 273	mine just about doubled this month from 2 months ago.

07/24/2006, 09:28 PM	#9
aztbs Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 4,492	Mine is only $200 a month on the managed payment plan so far (the kind where you pay the same thing every month year round). I just picked up a chiller so that I can stop keeping the house at 79degrees 'round the clock. If you look in the Bay Area forum, so many of them have been losing power for days at a time and they are paying $500 or more a month for that privilege. I have a generator that I could run the tank on for a while, but I have to be home to hook it up. I get the flourescent bulbs at Sam's Club in the big packs and have replaced all the lights in the house (even the outside floods). We are putting in double pane windows soon and will probably have some more insulation blown in the attic. I would cry if I got a $500 electric bill.

07/24/2006, 09:38 PM	#10
ADA33 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Francisco CA Posts: 3,131	What am I doing wrong mine was 540 last month

07/24/2006, 10:21 PM	#13
vanmle Moved On Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 2,732	Electricity the summer months are pretty expensive in AZ. My electricity bill is 80% higher this month than it was in May. Mostly it is my A/C and pool pumps that cause this large increase in electricity bill. July and August are the worst. However, I have the on peak/off peak billing cycle, and I can't be happier. Last year I had a 60 gallon tank, and this year I have a 180 gallon tank, and I am paying $60 less in electricity this month than the same month last year while using more electricity since I changed my lighting from day to night. Removed an AMP Master 3000 and replaced it with two tunzes. Everything is pretty much the same. I also just got a brand new efficient A/C unit for the main living area of my house. Old A/C used 30 AMPs at its max. New A/C 19 AMPs. The new A/C actually cools the house down faster. Gotta love technology.

07/24/2006, 10:29 PM	#14
Fliger Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 8,642	If I didn't watch what I was doing mine would easily be over $500. I have a large house with multiple ac units. Pool, tank, beer fridge in the garage. We counted once and we have close to 100 bulbs inside alone and many more outside. Trying to be cognizant of the peak hours and replacing the incandescents has been huge. Also putting the AC units on controlled timers has been great. I swear though, homes in AZ come with too many multi-bulb fixtures, its crazy! __________________ Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional. Closed minds should come with closed mouths. When life hands you lemons, add vodka! Current Tank Info: Current: 210G Elos System, 2x400W + 6x54W Photon w/Aquaconnects, H&S skimmer, Deltec FR509/ROWAphos+Elos Carbon, 6101's and 6201's, Ocean GEOtronic 900 Chiller/Heater, Biotopus II Controller w/SMS. Elos System 70.

07/24/2006, 10:44 PM	#15
Philwd Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Gilbert, Az Posts: 4,057	We are on SRP's plan where you pay the same every month. Right now its about $360. But my wife loves the house at 75. So I pay for it.

07/24/2006, 10:52 PM	#16
Freed It's what it's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 41° 2' 45" N 85° 8' 43" W Posts: 7,579	vanmle, do the figures I posted up above look about right? Something just doesn't make any sense if they are going to charge less than a hundredth of a penny per kwh if I'm not on the on peak/off peak but charge me almost 2 cents during off peak and 11 cents on peak if I have the meter for on peak/off peak hours. Thanks. __________________ Freed Current Tank Info: 180gal(1120 watts of MH/VHO light), 60gal "sump", Deltec 601 calcium reactor, Euro Reef CS8-3+ skimmer, 20 gallon QT

07/24/2006, 11:27 PM	#17
clkwrk Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Mesa ,Az Posts: 10,257	NO comment __________________ ------- Feel free to use my photos for ONLY informative sites, education or enjoyment.All I ask is to include my Reef Central User id and where you got the photo ( RC).

07/24/2006, 11:38 PM	#18
rwessels Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 779	$550 this month for me..... damn 2 story house and 2100 watts of lights.

07/24/2006, 11:43 PM	#19
clkwrk Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Mesa ,Az Posts: 10,257	I feel better know with my 489 but thats 10 halides ,2 chillers , house a/c ect. 1100 sqft __________________ ------- Feel free to use my photos for ONLY informative sites, education or enjoyment.All I ask is to include my Reef Central User id and where you got the photo ( RC).

07/24/2006, 11:47 PM	#20
Philwd Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Gilbert, Az Posts: 4,057	Mine includes a 2 story 3500 sq ft space with a huge vaulted area to cool. Wish I never got that feature.

07/24/2006, 11:52 PM	#21
joeyf Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 1,111	If you have an older fridge this is something to consider... A fridge that is 10 years old, on average uses about 10x the electricity as a new fridge that has today's energy star qualification on it. Also A/C units are the same way. If you are looking for a new A/C units, look for ones with higher SEER/EER ratings (9.5 or higher). The one on the house that we were renting up until next week has an 11.something SEER rating and it makes a difference. Unfortunately the house we bought is about 8 years old and the A/C units are the originals, so the two of them are gonna cost quite a bit to cool the 2500sqf 2 story. This is just some very basic info that I've picked up from when I sold appliances up until a month ago. If anyone has any ??'s on appliances LMK, I probably know more about appliances (except for waterheaters and large A/C's) than I do about reefkeeping, and I've been in the hobby for over 3 1/2 years. Also, I agree with Fliger, the flouro bulbs make a big difference overall. They use about 11-13w on average vs. 40-75w, produce less heat, and last about 10x longer. Figure a 4 pack of 40w cost $1 and a single flouro costs about $2 (when bought in a bulk pack) not a bad deal.

07/25/2006, 01:02 AM	#22
grenaria Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Scottsdale Posts: 700	Costco on 44th St and Thomas has an instant rebate on all the incandescent replacement flourescent bulbs. I don't remember the price exactly but an 8 pack of the 60W replacements (13W) were about $6. They also have 100W, R30, R40, and PAR38 replacements with huge instant rebates. They said they don't know when the program will end, but they've had it for like 2 months now. The rebate is sponsered by APS, the Tempe Costco said they dont have it because they're on SRP power . Also I agree about the AC SEER, I have a 13 SEER Trane that I had installed before I bought my house. Was well well worth the investment, and has probably already paid for itself. After all that, I'm still up at almost $500/month right now though.

07/25/2006, 08:51 AM	#24
sidewinder770 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: BFE Michigan and lovin it! Posts: 1,287	The managed payment plan is a good option if you want a fairly consistent bill all year. Personally I'd rather just "suck it up" for the summer rates and have a break the rest of the year. My current bill is $400 but I guess that's not too bad considering. __________________ Scott Current Tank Info: Currently between tanks- previous tank was the June 2007 Tank of the month.