| Author |
Message |
    
Twokitties
Citizen
Username: Twokitties
Post Number: 26
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 7:08 pm: | 
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Hi everyone. This is our first winter in Maplewood. We just got a bill from PSE+G for $350, over $300 of which was for our gas. Our house is a one zone home, no bigger than 2000 square feet. How does this compare to your monthly gas and electric costs? I'm planning on calling PSE+ G tomorrow, but I would love some neighborly feedback! Many thanks.
Also posted in PLEASE HELP... |
Master Plvmber
Citizen
Username: Master_plvmber
Post Number: 288
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 7:45 pm: |
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Last year I asked people to post some basic info about fuel usage and their heating equipment.
About twenty people replied.
Looks like you're on par with just about everyone else.
Master Plvmber |
DriveAllNight
Citizen
Username: Dolmets
Post Number: 9
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 8:18 pm: |
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Check to see if it is an estimated bill or if they actually read the meter. My estimated bills have been high and when that happens I just call PSEG to adjust the bill to the correct reading. What temp do you keep your thermostat at? |
gj1
Citizen
Username: Gj1
Post Number: 98
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 8:18 pm: |
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MP's survey is here. Unfortunately, your bill is normal. |
Twokitties
Citizen
Username: Twokitties
Post Number: 27
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 8:22 pm: |
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Thanks everyone. I guess it's reassuring to know that we are "normal" (at least with regards to heating bills...)....We keep our therm at about 64. I think we have some drafty spots too. THANKS again. |
gj1
Citizen
Username: Gj1
Post Number: 99
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 8:28 pm: |
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DriveAllNight makes two good points. Make sure to get an actual meter reading and your biggest savings will likely come from simply lowering the thermostat.
I went over a year on estimated readings and ended up being $900 overpaid after lowering the thermostat a few degrees last winter. |
Derek
Citizen
Username: Derek
Post Number: 67
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 10:50 pm: |
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2 Things:
Get an energy-star thermostat
Insulate your attic |
jjkatz
Citizen
Username: Jjkatz
Post Number: 492
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 9:30 am: |
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We also have a single-zone house. We have the thermostat set to 70 during the day and 65 at night. We pile on the blankets and we're fine. We have an electric heater in our daughter's room so she doesn't get cold.
I also recommend turning the heat down or off if you're going to be out of the house all day. If going on vacation, you can also turn the heat down as well as setting your hot water heater to PILOT instead of ON. |
local denizen
Citizen
Username: Local_denizen
Post Number: 35
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 8:45 pm: |
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I want to know how you only have a $50 electric bill. I'm always around double that. I do have an electric stove (oh the shame) but we're not extreme cooks or anything. Gas dryer, gas hot water, no electric supplemental heat.
Does $100/mo sound right for electric stove users? |
Twokitties
Citizen
Username: Twokitties
Post Number: 29
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 9:14 pm: |
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We have a gas stove. There are only two of us right now in the house and I'm obsessive about turning of lights in rooms that don't have people in them! I'm sure it will change once our new baby comes this spring! |
argon_smythe
Citizen
Username: Argon_smythe
Post Number: 477
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, December 30, 2004 - 11:20 am: |
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As I advocated in the other thread of the same name (BTW please don't post the same thread in two different areas) there is no substitute for reading your meters. If you want to understand what's consuming all the electricity, watch the electric meter.
See what your base burn is overnight by reading it before bed and then when you wake up, and calculate an average burn per hour from that. Use the stove and see how much extra that consumes, convert it to an hour-based consumption value again. Turn on the computer for an hour and see what that takes up. You'll get a good idea what the electricity hogs are - start with the most likely culprits. Then on the other side of the fence, try unplugging something overnight -- TV, VCR/DVD player, computer, etc -- anything non-essential -- and see how much could be reduced if these things weren't sitting in the background consuming electricity.
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Twokitties
Citizen
Username: Twokitties
Post Number: 31
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, December 30, 2004 - 6:27 pm: |
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Argon--Not sure what the big deal is about posting in two different areas. It's a good way to reach different people. I got responses from different folks---all very valuable and useful--by posting on two boards. I also mentioned on one that it was posted on the other.
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