[TheCommuter]

Originally Posted by loricatus

I know this is off topic, but I am in a state of shock right now getting the electric bill of over $600.00 for one month. I was only here 2 weeks out of that month.

You probably may need a newer, more efficient central AC unit. I leave my AC on auto at 79 degrees for 16 hours per day, and the electric bill to keep my 1,900 square foot house somewhat cool is about $75 per month. 79 degrees might not seem cool to people in other regions, but it feels rather cold compared to the 98 degree outdoor weather.

If I'm not mistaken, we both live in the same area?

[hypocaffeinemia]

Nearly all heating in suburban Houston is via propane. My house, which has electric oven/range, uses propane for heat, fireplace, and hot water. Monthly gas bill is $24.00-$30 max. Of course, this being Houston, I barely use any heat at all even in the winter months. I like my house cold and that's making my summer electricity bill quite painful.

[Kyrshamarks]

Originally Posted by methylene

Nearly all heating in suburban Houston is via propane. My house, which has electric oven/range, uses propane for heat, fireplace, and hot water. Monthly gas bill is $24.00-$30 max. Of course, this being Houston, I barely use any heat at all even in the winter months. I like my house cold and that's making my summer electricity bill quite painful.

In the burbs out here in Katy we use natural gas not propane. I actually do not know anyone in any of the burbs here that uses propane. They use it out in the countryside but not in the city areas due to the safety issues of propane storage tanks and the close proximity of houses to each other.

[hypocaffeinemia]

Originally Posted by Kyrshamarks

In the burbs out here in Katy we use natural gas not propane. I actually do not know anyone in any of the burbs here that uses propane. They use it out in the countryside but not in the city areas due to the safety issues of propane storage tanks and the close proximity of houses to each other.

Bah!

I meant natural gas. Actually, I meant to say methane instead of propane (methane=natural gas). You're right-- sorry for the confusion.

[Kyrshamarks]

Just call me Hank Hill.

[CHATSDALE]

michael, a 550 gallon tank, that boggles the mind, how long would that last?
i live in a trailer and my electric bill is always about $100 more than my kids who live in larger houses even those who have a pool and run that pump all during summer

[loricatus]

Originally Posted by TheCommuter

You probably may need a newer, more efficient central AC unit. I leave my AC on auto at 79 degrees for 16 hours per day, and the electric bill to keep my 1,900 square foot house somewhat cool is about $75 per month. 79 degrees might not seem cool to people in other regions, but it feels rather cold compared to the 98 degree outdoor weather.

If I'm not mistaken, we both live in the same area?

I probably do need a more efficient unit & have got to insulate.

Just spoke to my neighbor who keeps the a/c set at 80 degrees & they received a bill for $400.00. I was told that the area I live in (NE section of the metroplex) gets decreased wattage [or voltage-can't remember] (brown outs) every day during the summer months, which cause the meter to run faster. This guy works for the town & said that there is some form of agreement made between the town and the power company to allow the heavy industrial development to take place. Well, I should have expected this town to allow that-this is the home of Experian (consumer credit reporting agency).

Although I can't keep my home as warm as you do (heat intolerance, hot flashes, allergies and a hairy beast of a dog that will have seizures if overheated), I do have the same square footage. Don't think there is anything we can do to get the bills like yours; but, will have to come up with something to reduce it, at least, by half. Now I know why so many houses here are for sale-it's not the mortgage crisis, its the electric ripoff.

And I was stupid enough to think that I would be getting a financial break by moving back here. Just goes to show you that the grass is always greener...

[mshultz]

Originally Posted by CHATSDALE

michael, a 550 gallon tank, that boggles the mind, how long would that last?
i live in a trailer and my electric bill is always about $100 more than my kids who live in larger houses even those who have a pool and run that pump all during summer

I live in a 26' X 36' Cape Cod, very well insulated. Once I shut the heat off to the unfinished upstairs and did some additional caulking, I was using about half a tank of fuel a year. I would get the tank filled between July 4 and Labor Day, when fuel oil prices were cheapest.

Trailers are energy hogs. There is just no room for much insulation, no ventilated attic to reduce summer heat gain, little thermal mass to even out temperature swings, and they tend to be drafty.

This house was cheaper to air condition than the top floor apartment with the west view that I rented when I lived in Cleveland.