Brought Electricity Bill Down to < $50/mo

[nushagak]

Have consistently had the electric bill under $50 for 3 months in a row now. Really helps to make sure you're unplugging things you aren't using - like your computer or cable/ video box if you have them. The tipping point for us after I'd done everything else was turning off the modem / wifi box at night.

Small pain in the butt to have it reboot every morning, but not spending money on something we're not using = priceless.

[Hotstreak]

Awesome!  The little things add up :).

I recently turned down my water heater and cut about $10 from my bill (and still hot showers!).  The hard part is keeping the cost low during the coldest, and hottest months.  Good luck!

[Rebecca Stapler]

Nice work!

Our electric bill is under $50 in the winter (we have gas heat), but in the summer it's just ridiculous because of our AC situation (central air that doesn't cool the upper floors and the windows are casement, so we can't install a window AC unit). Our bill has been over $150 for the past 3 months! :(

[DarinC]

Most computers have an alarm you can set at the bios level to start the computer up. Under linux it's called wakealarm, but I'm not sure about windows. Anyhoo, there should be a utility out there that will set this for you so your computer turns on when you want it to.

[nushagak]

Most computers have an alarm you can set at the bios level to start the computer up. Under linux it's called wakealarm, but I'm not sure about windows. Anyhoo, there should be a utility out there that will set this for you so your computer turns on when you want it to.

That is super cool. I didn't know this existed - will look for it on Mac. Thanks!

[nushagak]

Nice work!

Our electric bill is under $50 in the winter (we have gas heat), but in the summer it's just ridiculous because of our AC situation (central air that doesn't cool the upper floors and the windows are casement, so we can't install a window AC unit). Our bill has been over $150 for the past 3 months! :(

I totally understand. If we didn't live in New England (with an unseasonably cool summer this year) it'd be tough to wrangle the electricity bill down with A/C. The summers when it's consistently 90+ for long stretches it's very, very uncomfortable to go without A/C - particularly to sleep. And we've paid much more for it electricity-wise.

[nushagak]

Super frustrating thing about electricity bills is that it's consistently $33-34/mo even if you aren't using any electricity at all. (Our house was dormant for about a month between closing and moving - so I know that's the case).

We looked into solar and, if we wanted to remain connected to the grid at all, this 'hook up' fee would endure - even if we were selling our extra electricity back to the electrical company.

Kind of ridiculous.

[Bob W]

Super cool!   Those extra fees on electric are a scam.  You might call your electric company and tell them you no longer wish to pay them.  See if they can figure out how to remove them.  It is worth a phone call.

Are you gas or electric for water heat?   Gas or electric for dryer?   Gas or electric for oven and stove?  Gas or oil heat?

We are all electric everything including our well.  I have never been below $80 at 8 cents a kilowatt.  You inspire me to do something different and get serious about this onerous reoccurring bill.  A 40% reduction could mean a lifetime savings that is huge!

[EarlyRetirementGuy]

That's awesome. We've got our combined energy bill (Gas + Elec) down to about £35 a month as well. Great job!

[Primm]

Most computers have an alarm you can set at the bios level to start the computer up. Under linux it's called wakealarm, but I'm not sure about windows. Anyhoo, there should be a utility out there that will set this for you so your computer turns on when you want it to.

That is super cool. I didn't know this existed - will look for it on Mac. Thanks!

System preferences > Energy saver > Schedule (button in the bottom right hand corner). Set to sleep and wake on schedule, which can be a different time on different days, or on weekdays/weekends, or the same every day.

:)

[skunkfunk]

I spend that many kWH per week :(

[dantownehall]

Well done!  My klast electric bill was $31.48.

I've started unplugging lots of things when not in use, but I'm not sure I'm going to get any lower.

[unix_kung_fu]

Really helps to make sure you're unplugging things you aren't using - like your computer or cable/ video box if you have them. The tipping point for us after I'd done everything else was turning off the modem / wifi box at night.

Small pain in the butt to have it reboot every morning, but not spending money on something we're not using = priceless.

I think for desktops it's likely best to just leave the computer on, all that spinning up/spinning down the fans/disks (at least for older models) causes wear and tear on the moving parts. Not sure what is cheaper. I'd consider turning off the modem and router nightly but the my roku and tv doesn't always pick it up. Perhaps I can borrow a Kill-a-Watt from someone locally and get some info on these.

Also, do you have ComED? I seem to remember those smiley faces and comparisons with the neighbors in a mailing to us recently.

[aj_yooper]

Good job!

Have consistently had the electric bill under $50 for 3 months in a row now. Really helps to make sure you're unplugging things you aren't using - like your computer or cable/ video box if you have them. The tipping point for us after I'd done everything else was turning off the modem / wifi box at night.

That helped us out too and it increases network security.  We also do that with our tv s and dvd; we are lucky as they are on a switched outlet.