Re: (OT) Please advise on electricity

On Sun, 30 Apr 2006 01:33:37 -0500, "Pat" <pdavis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

I just got the first electric bill for this house, and I am positively
stunned at the amount. They say I used 1,433 KWH electric in one month.

How is that possible? I have a small fridge, the water heater was off for
the first week and set on 110 F. the rest of the time. Aside from those big
consumers of power, all I've used has been lights, the computer (shut down
every night), occasional TV (19" screen if that matters) and once a week
vacuuming for maybe ten minutes.

My neighbors who heat with electricity and use an electric clothes dryer
almost daily in addition to a 32" TV, larger water heater, electric stove (I
use gas) and much larger fridge, plus a stand alone freezer, had an electric
bill two-thirds lower than mine for the same month!

Could the new meter loop be defective? Is there such a thing as a "leak" of
electricity in a house?

The reading on the water bill was also insane. It says I used 3,690 gallons
in one month, and that is simply not possible!!! I spent ten years living
in the desert and having to haul every drop from a well 7 miles away on an
unmaintained dirt road, and from that I really learned to conserve water. To
this day it is painful for me to have to flush a toilet. At the farm I would
leave my bathwater in the tub and dip it out for flushing. Here I just flush
twice a day. Remember, I live alone. And I take "military" showers. I think
I've washed maybe six loads of laundry here so far and that's for TWO
months, and there is no dishwasher, I fill the sink.

No way on earth have I used 123 gallons/day on average. No way!!! I'd be
very surprised to see proof that I had used half that amount.

Maybe they didn't actually read the water meter, and just made a guess?
Could they have done the same with the electric meter? The people who lived
here before were constantly using electric heaters, which I have never
done.... This is totally maddening.... I will just not be able to afford to
live here if these bills are correct.



OUCH! That is WAY too much power and water usage for one person! We
have a 5 bedroom house w/2 baths, washer and lots of cats, and we only
use about 1500 gal. per month. Our water bill is about $30.00 per
quarter. In the past, when we have had internal leaks, we can hear
the water meter ticking over - you might want to shut off all the
water faucets and locate the meter, and see if you can still hear it
running. Also, at that time see if there is an external display on
the meter and take the reading, then as Vicky says, chart your usage.

Another thing - could someone have tapped into your electrical? Was
the house next door to yours part of the original property, and is
still hooked up in the one meter? I just looked at our bill, and we
used 1455 kwh last month. We have an electric hot water heater (MAJOR
energy hog!), and as soon as we are able, we will be getting one of
those "on demand" heaters. Because of the way our house is set up, we
can't get a gas heater, but if we could we would. We are now using
cold water for all washing except for whites - we use Tide Cold Water
as it was rated best by Consumer Reports. Also, if you ran any
electric space heaters they could have caused your bill to be very
high. (been there, done that!)

Most definitely complain to the utilities in the am. Make them prove
that you used that much. I really doubt you did, esp the water use!

Good luck,
Patti

.

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