 KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
1 edit | WTF Massive, unexpected jump in Electricity usage... :( Oh man oh man.
Last month I received my electric bill showing I used 1218 kWh of electricity. This is more then I've ever used before, but we're having a hot hot summer, hottest one since I've owned the place so I wasn't surprised.
However, I didn't want it to be so high again so I took some steps to cut my A/C costs. Firstly, I started using a nice floor fan, and secondly, I turned up my A/C from 72 to 77. With the fan I'm comfortable. Without it it's warmer then I'm comfortable with. Anyway, no problem. I've always heard the "Rule of thumb" that for every degree you turn up your thermostat, you save 6% on cooling, so I figured 5 degrees, 30% no problem.
Fast forward to today. My last meter reading was on the 8th of July so today I went outside to look at my meter (It's a new digital one) to see how much I'd "saved" in kWh.
Result: I've used 2489 kWh according to the meter. WTF. I had to read it twice, then go back and check it again a third time.
I understand that everyone has different homes, different energy usages, more or less people in the house etc etc but I need to give you some background.
I don't have electric heat (hot water). The house is pretty well insulated. I have thermal barriers and energy efficient windows.
The oven is electric but I rarely use it. I always hard switch off EVERYTHING. No vampire draws here--- TV, Computer, Entertainment system, etc etc are all hard switched off via switches when not in use. I leave NO lights on, and all lights are CFL's anyway. I'm not married and I'm not home a lot. I wash clothes say 2 times a month. When I'm not at home the only things using power is the Fridge, my modem and the router (VOIP), the cordless phone base and the alarm system, all which I've had since I moved in so they are not like new draws. I don't leave any chargers plugged in when I don't need to charge the batteries. (I only have few anyway.)
To put it further in perspective. 2489 kWh is only slightly lower then my usage for the ENTIRE YEAR of 2009! According to the meter I've used a year's worth of electricity for this home in a single month, and that's WITH taking the A/C up to 77.
One other thing. The system had routine maintenance and inspection/cleaning on the 23rd of July, so it's not failing or dirty or etc problem.
It's been really hot--- 100 degrees or close + every day but even so WOW what a shocker and definitely NOT something my budget can tolerate repeatedly.
Help! Where should I even start?!? I'm a conservationist... I like to conserve my money!
Ideas? Comments? Suggestions? Anything is appreciated!
----- Edit: Added this info for everyone to see. ----- Everything below was not in original post.
Here's what I did:
I pulled every plug in the house. Cordless phone, Tool charger, Modem, Router, Sump pump, etc etc. Every room, the basement and the garage. I even took the car out of the garage and then pulled the plug on the garage door opener. I made sure all lights were switched off (even the dusk/motion ones.)
Only things I did not power down: The refrigerator (Door has been closed all day, deliberately.) The Alarm system, and... the A/C which was set to 78 degrees.
Then I went outside and logged the meter and the time.
Meter Reading: 15142 kWh @ 14:17.
I then ran errands. I got home 1:45 mins later so I waited and took the time to get the information off the side of the A/C unit outside. At exactly 16:17 I logged the meter again.
Meter Reading: 15152 kWh @ 16:17.
SO
10 kWh used in 2 HOURS and you can pretty much bet the A/C was almost every bit of it. Granted, it's the afternoon, hot part of the day but even so, that clearly indicates the culprit. If the A/C ran like this all day and night that would be 120 kWh a day.... obviously it's not running as hard at night/morning so that 88 kWh per day sounds right in the ballpark. The wow-this-sucks Ballpark anyway!
Now, here's all the information copied off the label.
I could find no date of manufacture on this label or another couple:
On top of fan housing: RHEEM CLASSIC High Efficiency. "Scroll Inside".
Label:
RHEEM
MODEL NUMBER: RAMB-060JAZ
SERIAL NUMBER: Not important
VOLTS: 208-230 Phase 1
COMPRESSER R.L.A. 28.9/28.9
FAN MOTOR F.L.A. 2.0 HP(Watts) 1/3
MIN AMP SUPPLY CAPACITY 38/38
MAX FUSE/CIRCUIT BREAKER 60/60
Some other unimportant stuff
It uses R22 Freon
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"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
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 newviewEx .. Ex .. ExactlyPremium
join:2001-10-01
Parsonsburg, MD
kudos:1 | What is your water heater power source? Electric? What's the temp set on?
Also, is the A/C running all day trying to maintain the 77 degree setting? Was it running all day trying to maintain the 72 degrees also?
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The Rules of Spam |
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robbinPremium,MVM
join:2000-09-21
Leander, TX
kudos:1 | reply to KrK
How big is your house? |
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PrntRhdPremium
join:2004-11-03
Fairfield, CA | reply to KrK
I would have the meter checked. |
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KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | reply to newview
Hot water is gas. A/C doesn't run all day. When I come home and the house is warm it has to run steadily for awhile but then it runs normally. The A/C doesn't have any problem cooling the house.
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"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
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 acid343211Hallo lisa Aus AmerikaPremium
join:2001-08-31
Byron, GA | reply to KrK
2489 kWh is about avg for me the other day we had 99F with 97% Humidity nothing you can do with these Temps.. 
Limit yourself from Opening the front/back door up if you need something outside think about what else you will need then open the door.
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KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | reply to robbin
About 1500 sqft not counting the basement which I don't need to cool (and don't.) Also I don't bother to cool the enclosed porch, either. So let's say it's cooling about 1375 sq ft.
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"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
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KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | reply to acid343211
Yeah I'm pretty good about that. Front door has a storm door on it as well. I typically get the mail when I come home and take out trash when I leave. In fact the doors don't get opened much. The garage door gets opened more, lol.
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"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
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robbinPremium,MVM
join:2000-09-21
Leander, TX
kudos:1 | reply to KrK
Have ou had your AC serviced recently? |
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KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | reply to PrntRhd
Good idea.
I'll ask AEP about that. It's new however, put in late 2008. |
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KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | reply to robbin
Yeah, the 23rd. (July) Routine maintenance. Cleaned, inspected, tested. Everything checked out OK. |
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 nunyaWho is John Galt?Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-23
O Fallon, MO
kudos:8
 ·Charter
 ·surpasshosting
 ·voip.ms
| reply to KrK
The average household uses 800-900 kWh per month.
There's a lot of variables.
It doesn't sound wildly out of place to me. It has been incredibly hot. Perchance, was your last "reading" actually an estimate? Before smart meters, my POCO would only do "actual" readings 4-6 times a year. If it was an estimate, then your usage may be more "spread out" than you think (e.g., you're getting whacked now for the 72 degrees earlier).
I don't know how people can afford to keep their houses so cold in the summer. I've always stuck with 80, my wife finally wore me down to 79.
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Looks like Reverend Wright got his wish - God Damn America.
Nancy Pelosi - House Minority Leader 2010
Harry Reid - Senate Minority Leader 2010 |
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KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
1 edit | Nah, the new meter is read by RF. It says actual read (by RF) on the bill.
This time last year, the bill was 1106 kWh. It wasn't exactly cool last year, but it has been hotter this year, but to more then double seems out of place.... and that's stepping up the Thermostat where last year it was 72.
Up until this bill, it hasn't been a problem. I've done a lot to cut my energy bills (which they've rewarded me for by increasing rates, but hey, imagine if I'd done nothing.... Yeeouch!)
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"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
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KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | reply to nunya
This makes me wonder if I can RF read my own meter and see what's up with the usage. |
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robbinPremium,MVM
join:2000-09-21
Leander, TX
kudos:1 | reply to KrK
I really don't think it has been hotter this year. My sister lives in Oklahoma City and if anything I think it was hotter last year. I also don't understand how you can say "To put it further in perspective. 2489 kWh is only slightly lower then my usage for the ENTIRE YEAR of 2009!" when you also state that "This time last year, the bill was 1106 kWh". Sorry, but that doesn't make sense.
What is the deal with the 72 degrees? No offence, but from what you have posted in the past I also question that your house "is pretty well insulated" or even understand what that means.
Please don't get me wrong -- I am not criticizing you, but it is hard to diagnose over the Internet. I think you may have something wrong with your AC but I also know that if your usage this month is almost the entire years usage last year, then you got a really good deal with your old, geriatric meter which was not billing correctly last year. |
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KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
3 edits | Ok, and not meaning to criticize either, but you're not reading the posts. As I said in the very first post the A/C was serviced on July 23rd. It has been hotter this year. Irregardless of what a relative in OKC thinks.... The last day below 90 was July 10th, and that was after a cool front (barely) cooled it off a little. The average temperature has been higher this summer then 2009.
Last year the July-August bill was the highest (by far) of the year, and it was 1106 kWh. I'm not sure what part of that doesn't make sense..... I went back and checked. My estimate was a little off. By looking at the history it appears I used 3396 kWh in 2009 and less then that in '08.
Also, as to your comments about my old meter, you'll see I posted above that it was replaced in late 2008... meaning I've had the new meter all of 2009 and now well into 2010.... so I wasn't getting some deal out of a different meter.
As for my past postings, you might be mixing up where I'm talking about my friend's place with incredible electric bills. I haven't posted much about my place and energy usage because before now it's never been a problem.
Again, not meaning to criticize, that's not why I posted here, but you're jumping on me--- and not paying attention to what has been said.
Basically, what I am saying is I also think something is up. I was expecting that raising the thermostat would have a pretty dramatic effect--- to the positive. However, that not only did not happen, but to use well over 200% more power then the same period last year--- makes me wonder what would of happened had I NOT raised the thermostat.
Here's an image straight off their website (in case you think I'm BS'ing you on the numbers.) Note I guess they read it on the 6th that's why it's 264 kWh lower.
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"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
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| reply to KrK
Hmm.. make sure the AC isn't overshooting 77 on cooling so much that it ends up calling heat to come back up, and cycling back and forth between heat and cool. Perhaps set it to "cool" mode rather than "auto", if it isn't already. |
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KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
1 edit | Good idea.... but the heat is set to shut off at 62... and it's set to "cool" anyway. 
Fan is on auto, though. Wonder if I should set it to on. |
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robbinPremium,MVM
join:2000-09-21
Leander, TX
kudos:1
1 edit | reply to KrK
I'm not going to debate you here. You have posted many, many posts regarding your roof and your problems with it. From that I can deduct that you own an older house and it is more than likely not really well insulated.
Regarding the temperatures of this year and past years I just surveyed the May thru July temps from the NOAA and you are correct that the temps have been a little hotter there. In May and June the average is .5 degree hotter that in 2009 but July is about 3.5 degrees hotter in your area.
I am not "jumping on you", but if you want actual helpful information, then you need to be able to have a conversation and not attack.
Post the model numbers of your AC (outside and inside) and maybe we can deduce the efficiency. You also seem to have knowledge of your homes insulation level. Post the information. What are your walls insulated to? What is the Ceiling? Is the attic ventalated? How?
The more information the better. |
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 koolman2Premium
join:2002-10-01
Anchorage, AK
3 edits | reply to KrK
Did you read the meter outright or the usage since the last read? The usage isn't reset, so the utility simply subtracts the last reading from the new reading. For example: say your meter reads 5983 for the month of July, and then 6763 when they read it for August. Your total bill will reflect usage of 780 kWh. Look at your last bill, it should have the actual reading on there, which you can subtract from what your meter says right now.
Just a thought, since it's a new meter, it would have been at 0 recently.
edit: forget all that, just noticed you got the meter in late 2008. |
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