Utility Bill Question

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by slakjaw

Off topic but there is a guy who lives near me who has gone through every electrical item in his house and calculated what his kwh usage should be. He is convinced that the electric company is ripping him off or his meter is out of calibration.

I know someone who turned their breaker box off for a couple months while not living in the house, yet their utility bills stayed the same.

[john70t]

Check usage:P3 - Kill A Watt

In Michigan. 1400sq. Gas water/furnace/stove. Some major insulation work done a few years ago(spray foamed 2nd floor ceiling, rim joists, and basement rim). Have metal/rubber seals on exterior metal doors. More can be done.

Combined gas/elect is $70-200/mo. Thermostat set to 65-70deg in winter. Electric is about 1/3-1/2 that, and I suspect my old big tube t.v. is a significant part, along with leaving power strips on and the g/f running everything.
I give a little to the "Green Currents" program to hopefully move towards renewable.

Water is $20-30/mo. even with the garden. Billed 4x yr. "If it's brown, flush it down. If it's yellow, keep it mellow".

DTE/Michigan Consolidated has been the de facto utility supplier here but they have improved quite a bit. I've also looked in Direct Energy and other 3rd party suppliers but their advertized TOS information is limited.

[osidak]

3400 sq/ft house

electric ~ 130 - Duke Power
gas ~ 20 - PSNC
water ~ 60 - City Water (I question the amount of water they say we use)

[KarlCarrera]

Excellent information folks.

Keep it coming.

Usually the more info one has, the more accurate picture I will be able to paint.

Dr Osidak, your rates are very competitive.

Thanks
Karl