[juanbenae]

My PG&E bill has pretty much doubled in the 5 years I've been up here in the southern sierras at about 3900' elevation. Electricity only during the winter months has grown to about $170 a month. Use propane fireplace to heat with a 250 gallon tank that lasts about with a year, including an on demand hot water heater. It was filled a month or so back at a cost of $500 for 180 gallons.

I am fortunate being on top of a mountain with southern facing windows that get direct sun, when sunny all day. Will heat the upstairs, where my living space is to the high 60's by dark if it reaches 50* or so outside and is clear. I prefer a cold room for sleep which my north facing bedroom provides year around except when it's 100* out in the summer so I don't heat it. Set my fireplace at 64* and flip it on before bed and it kicks on at some point during the night and has a fan to move heated air out the box.