Highest Utilities Bill Ever!

[livingdeb]

I got my highest utility bill ever (for me) today. And I did it with:
* a high-efficiency central air conditioner
* a nice three-month AC air filter that I replace monthly
* turning the AC off all day while we go to work, even though it's 86 in the house when we get home
* never cooling the house below 75 degrees
* plenty of insulation
* solar screens on all the windows
* solar film on some windows
* curtains, blinds, and/or tin foil on most windows
* the lightest color roof shingles my roofer offered
* mostly fluorescent light bulbs
* a low-flow shower head

It was kind of boiling hot every single day, as if it were August, and we did water a million tomato plants, and I'm still working on re-growing those fallen shade trees, but still.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Among other things, Austin Energy raised their rates last year. They had long-term contracts with generators which allowed them to avoid raising rates over the past few years, but now those contracts have expired, so they had to make new contracts at market rates.

Our electric bill was a record for us, as well. It was just plain hot this June and early July. Amusingly, this spring Austin Energy installed a new thermostat which was supposed to allow more control over energy usage - we can program temperatures based on time of day, and such. We have to set this thermostat several degrees lower than the old one to maintain the same temperature. For us, apparently more 'control' of energy usage means we use more at specific times.

[livingdeb.livejournal.com]

My problem wasn't the rates, it was the usage. I am remembering that we did get a chest freezer and then stick it in the garage. Crazy! But clearly not the only or even the main culprit.

hothothot

[fraeuleinchen.livejournal.com]

Oh my... yuck! (And you're not alone - ours was high too, especially since we have that green energy option, which A said increased our last electric bill by about $100.)

Re: hothothot

[livingdeb.livejournal.com]

I actually got the green energy option long enough ago that it's now cheaper than regular rates, but not so long ago that the ten-year contract expired and will be reset at a much higher level.

Re: hothothot

[fraeuleinchen.livejournal.com]

Eek!