posted
Due to the relatively mild temperatures, I spend most of last month with the air conditioning off and the windows open. I did this despite my allergies, which seem to be milder than usual this year. I also work nights, and I live in an area of my apartment building that gets a lot of light, so I don't have to use a lot of electric lighting when I am home (at least before work). This month, my electric bill was $9.56! Sweet! I'm going to have to look at leaving the air off and the windows open more often.
Posts: 1214 | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
Oh, it's the first time I've ever had one that low. But it has inspired me to leave the windows open a lot more I can tell you!
Posts: 1214 | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
More likely that they're correcting a previous overpayment: bills are often based on estimated monthly usage, then corrected from an actual meter reading made every couple of months or so. Or if they check monthly, they've under-billed to the default minimum cuz their meter-reader was unable to get an actual reading this (these) past (few) month(s).
Never make a budget based on a low utility bill or a series of low utility bills. Save that "extra" money; all too often ya hafta make up for low-billing(s) in the following month or so. And nearly always, they demand payment in full accompanied by a cut-off notice. There is HUGE profit to be made in disconnecting then reconnecting a utility, even when the billing/payment error is their own.
posted
I leave my windows open all the time when it's cool.. I can go months without running the A/C or heater...
My electric bill is *never* under $125 for my 3 bedroom townhouse.
Of course, I live in California where generating electricity is borderline illegal so I guess I'm lucky to have power at all.
Posts: 7085 | Registered: Apr 2001
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"Do you have a refrigerator? I'd think that alone might cost $10/month."
Yep. Having a TV, VCR, and cable box in stand-by mode (ie so you can turn them on&off with a remote control) alone eats $2to$8 of electricity per month (depending on your system) without actually ever using them. Then there's your stereo, computer, etc...
Posts: 8501 | Registered: Jul 2001
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If you own few enough electronics, it's easy to keep your bills low. I think the highest electric bill I ever saw back when I lived alone was $22--and that was in DC in August. The monthly average was probably around $15.
Posts: 650 | Registered: Mar 2005
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we had a electric bill once that was $12 and my oh so funny husband told me to turn off the clocks when I was not looking at them! Yes, he has embraced his inner-dorkdom.
Posts: 204 | Registered: Aug 2001
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I'll commiserate with Kwea, even though I know that I'm beating him by a landslide.
My electric bill averages around $40 from October through April. Then, it jumps up to about three times that at the hottest months. Based on the last two years' worth of bills, I'll pay more than $100 during the August bill (which has most of July on it) and over $70 on the September bill (which has most of August on it). Depends on the heat waves, though...
I'm living in northern Kansas. I'm running a single AC window-unit, which has to cool three rooms: kitchen, living room, and bedroom. It's a two-bedroom place, but I keep the other bedroom closed. This apartment has horrible insulation (probably: none) and leaky windows. At night, if possible, I'll turn off the AC and open the windows. Needless to say, I try to keep the AC to a minimum, since it's the big energy hog. I run about two loads of laundry a week, so I know the dryer is adding it's $2 to my bill. Oh, I'm also running a fridge and there are at least three computers running. No CRTs, though!
Posts: 1813 | Registered: Apr 2001
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I would go without the AC all summer if it were up to me -- I love fresh air and I hate the artificial feeling the AC creates. I also sort of like heat and humidity. Which I understand is really weird. I have never met anyone who shared my opinion.
Posts: 930 | Registered: Dec 2006
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Actually, my meter reading last month was 44 kwh. I really don't use that much electricity on a regular basis. The highest my bills ever are is around $50 and that's in winter or mid-summer when I'm running the air or the heat all the time. I've just never hit quite this low point before.
Posts: 1214 | Registered: Aug 2005
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