[survey] How much was your electric bill this month?

OMG did you say $1200 dollars dude you keep that sucker in the Mid 60's dont you.

 

Or a big ass pool..

 

I do balanced billing with Reliant...it's at $160 right now. 1905 sqft. We rarely ever have it above 70.

 

$189... if I unplugged my computers and mini-fridge I'm sure it would be about $120, lol.

 

geeze....no doubt.

My house is a one story house with 1388 sq ft effective living space(1580- garage) and mine was DOUBLE what his was. Dont remember the exact number, but it is around 450 last month.
We keep the thermo around 75 all the time(there is always someone home, either one of us or the older girl)....but like Deck, I have tons of electronics(7 computers) and two large aquariums that have to be kept cool(under 76)

It would be better if we could get the windows replaced, they are over 20 yrs old and leak like a sieve + I really need to add some more insulation up top since it is also over 20 yrs old.

Thankfully we trashed Reliant a couple of years back or it would be well over 500.

 

Reliant Customers, get ready to get screwed again:

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/business/081505_APbusiness_reliant.html

Reliant settles suits with California utilities for $445 million
By The Associated Press
(8/15/05 - HOUSTON) — Reliant Energy Inc. on Monday agreed to pay $445 million to settle lawsuits filed by investor-owned utilities that claimed the company attempted to pump up trade volumes and revenues in the midst of an energy crisis in Western states.

The settlements with San Diego Gas & Electric, Edison International, Pacific Gas & Electric Co., and other entities calls for Reliant to pay $150 million in cash. Reliant will also waive claims to its receivables for power deliveries from Jan. 1, 2000, to June 21, 2001.


Reliant, which provides electricity to retail and wholesale customers, said the settlements are still subject to approval by a federal court in Texas and regulators. The agreement comes just weeks after Reliant agreed to settle all shareholder class-action lawsuits for about $68 million.

"This settlement is great news for California," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a prepared statement. "The people of California deserve affordable and reliable energy supplies. I will continue to fight for justice from companies that took advantage of California residents and businesses during the energy crisis."

The agreement also ends investigations conducted by attorneys general in California, Washington and Oregon. All civil litigation filed by the California Attorney General's Office, including a pending antitrust lawsuit, also were resolved.

Southern California Edison said in a statement it will likely receive more than $130 million under the latest settlement. San Diego Gas & Electric said it expects to receive about $42.1 million, while Pacific Gas & Electric expects about $230 million.

Reliant said all private electricity-related class action lawsuits filed on behalf of ratepayers in California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Utah were also resolved under the agreement.

"Part of moving forward is responsibly addressing legacy issues such as these," said Reliant Chairman and CEO Joel Staff in a statement. "Today, Reliant is a very different company than it was in 2000 and 2001."

Reliant will record an estimated $350 million pretax charge in the third quarter of 2005 to reflect the agreement. It did not admit to any liability by the company or its directors and officers, and there were no findings of any violations of securities laws.

The Houston-based company was accused of failing to disclose certain trading activities from 1999 to 2001 that took advantage of a power shortage in the West to pump up revenues. An energy shortage, mostly centered in California, caused rolling blackouts and skyrocketing electricity rates.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

 

Last month was $133

Your electric service Reliant Energy

This months bill $156

House square footage 2400

Thermostat setting We keep ours on 78 degrees daytime, 72 sleep time

Other house info we run ceiling fans nearly 24/7... 1 story (3/2/2 lv/2)

Oh yeah... Plano (in TXU monopoly land- Dallas...I chose Reliant due to Houston tie-in) My neighbors have similar floor plans, and the TXU bills are in the mid $200's w/out pools, and the $500 w/ pools...

btw- we have a 1 year old TRANE a/c with a 17 seer rating, and tons of insulation in the attic... I unplugged the "turbo attic fan" - when I worked for a roofing company I learned that in Texas it will add to your bill. The best solution is to have plenty soffet vents and install a vent ridge. There are several brands out there, this just has a good web site....

-and that means "turbo fan" or not.


Since heat naturally rises, a vent ridge combined with proper soffet vents causes the hot air to escape passively - NO ELECTRICITY INVOLVED. Meanwhile the "turbo attic fan" crap runs your bill up.

 

Just got this month's bill yesterday...$160.....$40 less than last month.

I've left my ceiling fans running 24/7 the last month while cranking it up to over 80 degrees while I'm out of the house and down to 76 degrees while I'm home.

 

You realize that leaving your ceiling fans on while not in the house actually heats the room. Why? The motor from the fan generates heat. The reason you feel cooler with the fan on is because the air is moving.

Having the fans on when you aren't in the house costs electricity. Plus, the fans actually bring heat into the house. I suggest you turn the fans off when you leave the house and turn them back on when you get home. Within 30 seconds, the air will be circulating just as if the fans were always on; plus you save electricity and avoid heating up your house (slightly). I know this defies conventional wisdom (example: My wife still doesn't get it or she just doesn't want to) but the 1st Law of Thermodynamics applies here.

 

About a 900 sq ft. apartment. Average was about 70-80 bucks.

Last couple months its been 130-150.

I use Reliant.

I have to ask, since I've started looking into it....is it honestly a good idea to switch?

 

I've heard that you can get a little high efficiency window unit (or two) and run it at night in your bedroom(s) ~ this allows you to shutdown the big central AC at night. This also works during the day when you're at work ~ you run it for your pet or an annoying family member that is still at home (in one room only).

They make some that are difficult to spot for those with ‘restrictions’…

 

$440

I live in Columbus, OH in a 3000 sq ft house. Its only that high because of the pool and the fact that the wife always wants the house freezing.

 

$766.04 . . . brutal.

 

I was thinking the same thing about ya'll keeping it below 76!! I can't sleep or be in anything colder than that. I prefer 77 at the lowest when I sleep.

 

i didn't want to open a new thread about the electricity bill.

Un****inbelievable!!! my bill quadrupled! apparently, the cost per kWh doubled and so did my usage. excuse me while i go cry.

 

$143/mo for a 2bedroom townhome.

But then that figure is partly inflated by my two computers that run 24/7 (and put out a bit of heat too).

 

Reliant
2800 sq ft, 2 story, 20 years old

last month: $120
this month: $130

gas this month: $90

 

holy crap, what happened. that wasn't my experience at all. my bill looked exactly like it did last month.

 

^^^i wish i knew. comparing bills, i noticed the increased cost per kWh. and i know our AC use increased also b/c it has been a warmer month. average bill is $70. this month, $297. i thought it could be the increase in gas prices that is causing this, but it doesn't seem to be affecting anyone else. maybe they misread teh meter.