POLL...Do You read your meter each month and HOW much power do you consume ?

Ours used to be low, but it has doubled since my ma moved in. How can one person, registered in the green party, supposed to care about the environment use as much power as a family of 5?
There is a big difference between doing and talking....

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A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

This is an very interesting thread...

For March we used 917 main and 1451 OP1.
Total kwh hours 2368 and $144.60.

This includes our heat, appliances, lights etc. Feb was cold here with many nights dropping below 0 with one night of -22! We use propane as a backup heat but it is too expensive to use as a primary heat- I know lots of people who heat with fuel oil, natural gas or propane and they had skyrocketing heating bills this past winter.

I am wondering (just asking) about those of you who have low kwh usage and have other heating types why you go with gas appliances? Isn't electric easier to convert than gas?

I dont read my electric,I trust them not to surprise me.

But the gas I watch like a hawk.
They didnt read for months last winter and way underestimated,then hit me with a 1200 bill.

Had I had a clue,that usage would have been cut way back.

This winter my highest monthly was 150,and with higher cost to boot.

Pays to know what you are using,good thread Fordy.

BooBoo

My light bill for the 179 kwh at the house totaled $18.82
Now the dairy barn used 1163 kwh for a total cost of $99.29
I do my best to conserve!
Highland

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"If you can't fix it you gotta stand it"

Ooops! yes I have to read the meter once a month. Farmers RECC checks the reading once a year I belive.
Highland

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"If you can't fix it you gotta stand it"

................I have a 500 gallon propane tank that I only fill UP once a year ,......BUT our winters down here in texas are relatively mild compared to say Iowa or Minnesota . I use propane for a 40 gallon water heater and for heat during the winter . At night I turn the propane stove OFF completely , then I will employ an electric blanket if I need additional heat . My living quarters is very insulated and normally it won't drop below 56f or so even if the outside temps drop to the mid 20's . I don't use a large propane stove to cook with as it is just me , myself and I so we use a Toaster oven and a 2 burner electric hot plate I bought at WMt. for 21.95 . I don't leave ANYthing plugged IN except the computer and frig. During the summer I use 2 window units of 6k and 8k Btu for Air . As the temps go UP I'll probably try and cut my window units usage to a minimum .
...............Why gas for cooking(relative to others) , because heat is instantaneous whereas electric is slow to heat . If I had a wife\kids it would be a different story I'm sure but each family has their own personal preferences . fordy...

Me, no meter to look at....been living without it for 11 years now...sometimes I miss it...a little.........but don't miss the bills.....now that I have the place paid off, I'm gonna look into some alternative power sources. Am leaning toward wind, as I'm on top of a hill....but am not locked into that just yet....I heat with wood in the winter, and take my showers at work. In the summer, I use a small battery powered fan, and if I cook[which I don't much, am a huge bachelorette for now!], I have a propane coleman that I do that on, and heat up my water, to take my showers with, which I do outside, weather permitting................

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I support our troops, I love my country, but fear my government.....

I can't vote, because the only alternative energy you have up there is solar.
Anyway, the answer to the 2 questions is no and not much . Less than a killowat.

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Vicker
If you're born to hang, you'll never drown.

I am using now about 30 kwh a day. i could use less if I tried.

yeah, I read the meter all the time and chart it in a calender to keep taqbs on the power comapny.

Wow, I'm kinda bummed - I thought I was doing okay until I looked at everyone else's.

I used 701 kwh last month at a cost of $.03873/kwh so about $27 in electric plus distribution, sales and taxes and my bill comes out to $57/month.

I do have electric heat, though. But I don't go around leaving lights on or anything. What's using all my electricity?? The computer?

I was really surprised when my electric bill arrived yesterday and it had dropped considerably. I normally use about 300 KWH per month.

I recently went to full time employment instead of part time and my electricity usage dropped to 188 KWH for a month. I also get furnished and laundered uniforms so that may have dropped my bill in addition to my not having the computer and television on so much.

With all of the add on fees, etc. my bill was $21.94, which pleased me.