Average Electric Bill

[RobertG]

What is the average of your electic bill, mine hit 485$$. It was 385 last month.

[Ram_Puppy]

it has been 200+ all summer, in the winter we get away with 100 or less. 1100 sq foot apartment, 2 powerful computers, 1 55 Gallon tank w/ 4 48" tubes and 4 24" tubes (carnivorous plant terrarium) and the 30 gallon hex, 175 watt mh, 6 20 watt PC bulbs. oh, and a 20 gallon eclipse w/ a tiny powersweep power head and standard light and filtration package. that stuff runs almost all the time (lights of course are not) we have a powerful Amp/Tuner that is almost always driving TV audio or music when we are home. otherwise, the only other consistent draw is the AC, which is kept at 76 during the day, and 72 at night. (Would pump it higher, but I work nights, wife works days, so it always needs to run. (plus the tank needs it! :) )

[captexas]

I have a 3 bedroom house and live by myself. My winter average is around $100 and this summer has been around $200 or so per month. Not looking forward to my bills once I get my 240g up and going! lol

[mathias]

yea this summer it went up to 220 and it averages under 100 I was ****ed LOL

[RobertG]

Well mine has never went this high. The light cycle has not changed in the last month. I have a A/C unit for a chiller. I am thinking it is from my house a/c, I let the filter get pretty dirty. When I changed (while it was running) noticed a big difference in the airflow. Just seems wierd, I was outta town for a week in this bill cycle. Left the a/c on 80. Thought for sure it would be lower than the 385 last month. I ussually sit about 250-300 or so. I have the lights on my tank running 10-12 Hrs a day. A/C on house about 74-76. My house is about 2500Sq.ft. Just thought 485 was way off. :twisted:

[Ed]

Robert,

I was surprised that mine was higher than last months' too. :shock:

Part of it may be that Pedernales started passing along increased costs last month. :(

[DaveJohnson]

In San Antonio it's not so much the bill but all the extra charges they apply from June - September. For example, last month I paid nearly $90 just in extra fees that CPS has now deemed appropriate for the summer months. What really ticks me off is how they claim their KwH rates are some of the cheapest in the US, which is true as far as that goes, but when you figure in their fuel surcharges and everthing else they are very expensive.

But for the sake of this thread, my bill (1850 sq ft house) ranges from $90 in the winter to $360 in the summer. That's including my tanks lighting (440 W VHO, 400 W MH and 120 W NO)

Cheers,
Dave Johnson

[Tim Marvin]

I run the house at 77... Tanks stay around 78-79

[Ram_Puppy]

last night I was dreaming of my 'dream tank' and this thread slipped in somehow... My dream tank has now been updated with a servo operated sun tracking solar array or two, or three... depending on the version of the dream! :) hehh hehh... (

[Brett Wilson]

I keep my house at 78 in the day, 68 at night. $150 avg elect bill this summer. I just moved in last april so I dont know the winter average.
2/2/1, 1300sqft, two story with at least one good shade tree outside blocking the morning and early afternoon sun from 'some' of the front of my house.

[brewercm]

In San Antonio it's not so much the bill but all the extra charges they apply from June - September

That's so they can redistribute your wealth to the less fortunate, just another welfare program brought to you by CPS.

OK, now that I'm done with that and flame me if you want.
Mine runs around $250+ in summer and 150+ winter. I'm on a coop plan and keep the house at 77 daytime.

[Brett Wilson]

That's so they can redistribute your wealth to the less fortunate, just another welfare program brought to you by CPS.

The really wealthy can make up for it with their tax cuts.
http://www.misleader.org/

[Ram_Puppy]

80% of all taxes are paid by the top 20% of the nations wage earners.

http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/pub/irs-soi/01in01ts.xls

[Brett Wilson]

Without sounding too obvious, if I make $300K and am taxed 10% vs if I make $30K and pay 30%; the person making $30K is being taxed at a higher rate but the person at $300K is paying more.
10% of $300K is $30K,
30% of $30K is $10K.

I fail to see the point here, but ok.

[brewercm]

That's why we need a flat tax rate with no deductions or exceptions.

[Brett Wilson]

Sounds like a neat Idea...
I just don't know all the pros/cons of it...

As long as we all arent at the 30% rate :-p

[Ram_Puppy]

I agree that a flat tax is a good idea, I would vote for it in a referndum in a heartbeat (all reef related materials, tax exempt of course.)

My point brett, was that while a person earning 300K may be taxed at a lower percentage, they are still paying more. you illustrated my point perfectly, those that earn more pay more. you may not think they pay enough, but that income bracket already shoulders 80% of the tax burden.

I am not for rich people paying less taxes, I am for everyone paying less taxes! :) if people did more to support their local community, a lot of our taxes wouldn't be neccessary.

[Ram_Puppy]

BUT, that is not the point of the thread, let's not pull off a hijacking here.

[wkopplin]

My electric bill topped $600 last month. That was $150 less than my house payment. BTW, if ANY of you mention that at the meeting in front of my wife, you are in big trouble!

I am for rich people paying less taxes because according to the government you are "rich" if you make more than $50k per year.

[Brett Wilson]

600! Now I'll never get my new 115 up and running, I can't afford it! :-P

You may have to bribe me with a frag at the meeting to not tell your wife :-P ;)

[Salty]

My summer bills average $140 on GVEC Coop with a/c set at 78 days and 73 nights on 2500 sq ft.

[brewercm]

Dang, they're cheaper than Bandera Coop by quite a bit. Glad we'll be moving to the Cibolo area soon.

[RobertG]

My electric bill topped $600 last month. That was $150 less than my house payment. BTW, if ANY of you mention that at the meeting in front of my wife, you are in big trouble!

I am for rich people paying less taxes because according to the government you are "rich" if you make more than $50k per year.

I need a smaller House! 750 would not get me much here in the Austin Area! Whats new I'm always in TROUBLE! I need more frags, so put them in a bag & into my mouth so nothing blurts out! LOL

Salty How is this? 140$ What kinda tank are you running? Lights?

[Ram_Puppy]

dangit robert, you beat me to it... was about to ask if anyone else realized that Blake just gifted us with some nice blackmail material. :)

[Brett Wilson]

Salty, do you know the price per watt pay schedule for your area?

[Salty]

GVEC posts its rates on its website www.dewittec.org and has tiered service depending in part on the effeciaincy of your home. My house is new and I have pretty efficient appliances and a/c.

My current tank is a 135 with 2 pc's (384 watt total) running 12+ hours 1 mag 7, 1 rio 2100 1 rio 1900? and 3 maxijet 1200's. I have a second tank with a 36 watt pc and HOB filter...

[alexwolf]

My last house was 1600 sq ft, we kept the AC at 81 during the day and 76 evening. My highest bill with the tank was $235, which was last month. New house is 2400 sq ft, so I am preparing for a surge.

[dan]

last month my bill was 310.00. this month it's 325.00. in the winter it's around 80.00 with the same lights running on my tank, so it's not the tank thats raising the price.

[RobertG]

I am thinking it is the A/C Filter I did'nt change for three months. I mean it was just caked with crap. It's the only thing I can come up with. The last 2 Months have been off. Our bedroom felt real hot for awhile, thought about the filter & changed it. Our room cooled in less than 45 minutes. Tank has not changed so I am looking for something to blame. My bill has never been less than 200.00 since I moved in. 2 1/2 yrs ago. Everything in my house is electric so I kinda expect it in this range. Never been over 385 though.

[wkopplin]

In my defense, my A/C was out of freon so it was running all the time. Had a leak in it. I just got that fixed and that will drop my bill way down, plus all the new pumps just shed about 7 amps running 24 hours a day so that will help out. I am switching to e-ballasts which should also help out.

I am hoping that next month's bill will be a little kinder to me.

[StephenA]

Mine hit $533 this month, an all time high!

[MIOR6485]

for the last five months my bill has ranged from $70-$96. I have a 2380sf. thank god for stone floor and 2x6 exterior walls. I keep temp at 80F with fans on. All my recess lights(48) are using florescent energy saving 16W bulbs (initial cost hurt at $8 a bulb).

[Tim Marvin]

Robert, $750 can get a lot of house here in Austin, depending on how much money you put down. If you put down $1,000,000. on a $1,070,000 that would about cover the morgage payment without taxes....LOL...... I can assure you Kopplin's house is not financed 100% at that morgage payment. He has a very nice home as you will see!

[Instar]

I have a 2 story with 2 climate controls but, my average bill is not high enough to get into the poll. You'll have to add one for me thats $50 to $150. My summer bill is higher of course, but, not the average. House is varies in the mid 70's depending on time of day. I've paid a couple electric bills over $100 so far this summer and one over $200. Last time I counted between small and large tanks there's 11, most with heaters, all have lights with hot balasts. Thanks all for helping make me not want to move.

[RobertG]

Robert, $750 can get a lot of house here in Austin, depending on how much money you put down. If you put down $1,000,000. on a $1,070,000 that would about cover the morgage payment without taxes....LOL...... I can assure you Kopplin's house is not financed 100% at that morgage payment. He has a very nice home as you will see!

OK yes I can do the math! I'm Not RICH!!!! Ok my house is 940 before the taxes & Crap!!! Not to far off. Just was shocking to here 750.00....

[Salty]

RobertG - If your filter was that bad you should have someone come clean the coil, that will improve your bill and the performance of the a/c. IMO :skeezy:

[RobertG]

Salty you think it is something to worry about. My house is two yrs old. It has never gotten like that before. I just got to Lazy to replace it. It seems to be great since I replaced it.

[Instar]

Mine hit $533 this month, an all time high!

For $533 a month you can drive a what??? and have a boat too? Or a beach house or... :lol:
Sorry man, had to do that. :P

[Salty]

RobertG

I would ask a serviceman to check it just in case - maybe during a regular annual check up? If it is 2 years old you should have a check up anyway just keep any warranty in place, most warranties require an annual service.

[brewercm]

As far as the coils go. I just had to have mine completely removed and cleaned because it got so dirty over the five years we had the system that they couldn't get it clean enough in the cabinet. The filter system that came with the house was garbage and I replaced it so this won't happen again.

[StephenA]

I could have a nice boat for that larry!!!

[Salty]

I have a friend that does a/c and we have had a secondary filter system and an ultra violet filter added to our system. It has done wonders for my sons allergies.

[Instar]

I could have a nice boat for that larry!!!

:P I had a pro bass boat for $185, a $20,000.00 rig fully loaded with every electronic underwater device you can come up with. Yes, you could have a very, very nice boat for that 533.

As far as a.c goes, clean filters go a very long way in keeping dust down as well as the bill. I use a more expensive filter than the standard FG, but, its well worth it IMO. They should be changed more often than they are. Its easy to forget about them till something goes wrong or maybe the bill climbs too much. I have a cat and that means frequent changing.

[mathias]

yea 600 is outrageos so its fees and stuff making my bill higher???? and here I am yelling at my roomates top of my longues to turn off those **** lights and fans when they aint in thier room LOL

[mathias]

O yea if anyone needs a new house PM me LOL I can get you one with no problems and I have boxes for sale if you want your payment to be $750 jk