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Re: Electric bill
I monitor the HECO bills for the bldg where I work. I called to question a raise in our rates late last year (when oil was very expensive!!!) and I was told that part of our rate increases each month was based on the cost at the time the oil was purchased by HECO to be processed into electricity.
Our bills for the office went WAAAAY up this last month. If what HECO told me is correct, we are probably just now getting into the use of that very expensive oil. Another cause for rate increases right now is that the PUC just approved new rate increases.
I'm lucky where I live now in that I don't have to pay any utilities (included with my rent) but I do check with my landlord once in a while to make sure I'm keeping my useage down - or at least not increasing it when I can."Democracy is the only system that persists in asking the powers that be whether they are the powers that ought to be."
– Sydney J. Harris
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Re: Electric bill
Originally posted by Leo Lakio View PostYou poor thing. Idea for you: store it in a freezer, not a refrigerator - you'll find it to be a whole new taste treat!Peace, Love, and Local Grindz
People who form FIRM opinions with so little knowledge only pretend to be open-minded. They select their facts like food from a buffet. David R. Dow
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Re: Electric bill
Originally posted by craigwatanabe View PostI read on the AP wire that those cable/satellite tv boxes can use as much electricity as a 21-cu ft refrigerator. I got five of them.
If it's just a tuner, I wouldn't expect it to draw that much, but if it's digital, well, I guess it's all in how it's designed.
You might want to check the power ratings on them (worst case) or maybe by a Kill-A-Watt to see how much it's drawing.
Originally posted by tutusue View PostWater is included in the condo maintenance fee.
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Re: Electric bill
Originally posted by GeckoGeek View PostDepends on what they are. From what I hear, it's the ones with a built-in DVR that suck the power. It's a desktop computer on 24/7. It's either recording or scanning for something to record.
If it's just a tuner, I wouldn't expect it to draw that much, but if it's digital, well, I guess it's all in how it's designed. [...]
I think he's talking about hot water. That's a big portion of the total energy bill. If you've got a dripping faucet, that can explain a lot.
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Re: Electric bill
Originally posted by matapule View PostHowever, your electric rates are much lower by a significant factor than our home in California. If you move back to CA.......bring lots of money!
Matapule, I live alone in house juss under 1300 sq ft:
- Winter average over $80.00 per month, mostly due to electric furnace
- Spring / Fall - no need use furnace all the time - around 50 bucks
- Summer time it's below 40 bucks. I no have A/C, so I keep house open during the evenings to cool off the house; usually around 60° at night. No work all the time, though.
Take multiple showers daily, but no big ting as I keep water heater (gas) in OFF position until needed. Cold water for clothes washer. I've rarely used my dishwasher - rinse bowl / cup / utensils after most meals.
FYI around forty bucks every two months for water.Born in Hawaii, too - Truss me
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Re: Electric bill
Originally posted by Palama Kid View PostMatapule, I live alone in house juss under 1300 sq ft:
- Winter average over $80.00 per month, mostly due to electric furnace
- Spring / Fall - no need use furnace all the time - around 50 bucks
- Summer time it's below 40 bucks. I no have A/C, so I keep house open during the evenings to cool off the house; usually around 60° at night. No work all the time, though....]
"My place in Irvine isn't usually more than $45 except in the winter when I use heat."
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Re: Electric bill
We will probably be paying much more for electricity in the near future because of this rate increase proposal. From what I understand (and I could be wrong here), but this increase is significant in that it is not tied to the price of oil or operating expenses, but is being used to pay for HECO’s future capital improvement projects.
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Re: Electric bill
Originally posted by tutusue View PostEven if it's powered off?
Originally posted by tutusue View PostAnd, if it's HD?.....
Originally posted by tutusue View PostHot water is also included in the maint. fee. I love not having a hot water heater!
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Re: Electric bill
Originally posted by tutusue View Post"My place in Irvine isn't usually more than $45 except in the winter when I use heat."
Originally posted by GeckoGeek View PostWithout paying for what you use, there's no incentive to reduce energy. Condos may find themselves trapped between high costs and residents screaming about rising maintenance costs.Peace, Love, and Local Grindz
People who form FIRM opinions with so little knowledge only pretend to be open-minded. They select their facts like food from a buffet. David R. Dow
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Re: Electric bill
Mahalo, tutusue, for directing me to this thread. I live in a 1400sf townhouse. There are only two in our household (husband and me). CFLs in about 90% of all fixtures. All appliances are energy star. Water heater on a timer. We are at home and awake for six hours in a day. Our kwH usage for all of last year was never more than 500. Starting in January 2011, HECO showed usage went up slightly. In February, it spiked at almost 900 even though Feb is the shortest month of the year, and we weren't even home for 10 days that month. March showed lower usage, but it was still well over our usual. Since then, it has kept going up so that last month's purported usage was over 900 kwH. My bill for June was $283! We do not run a/c; all of our appliances seem to be working just fine. We have not changed our lifestyle - we are creatures of habit.
My friends live in a single family home, have two adults and three teenagers, have at least two people home during the day, and have the tv on and various appliances running continually all day. Their electric bill last month was $245. How can?
I called HECO twice this week and was told that someone would get back yo me in 4-8 weeks! What kine customer service is that?! I just want to find out if we're "leaking" electricity somewhere. Does anyone have any ideas?
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Re: Electric bill
I'm sorry for your problems with a high electric bill but I've had a lot of experience with HECO customer service through my job and I've never had your sort of problems with them. and I don't think it is just because its a commercial account. I've had personal interaction with them at my apartment too. the response you say you have gotten from them just doesn't seem right. but of course, I'm only speaking from my own personal experience.
also, have you tried going to their website? they have a lot of tips on how to track you usage.
again, sorry for the experience youv'e been having with HECO."Democracy is the only system that persists in asking the powers that be whether they are the powers that ought to be."
– Sydney J. Harris
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Re: Electric bill
Originally posted by maliemalamalama View Post[..
I called HECO twice this week and was told that someone would get back yo me in 4-8 weeks! What kine customer service is that?![...]
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Re: Electric bill
Originally posted by maliemalamalama View PostOur kwH usage for all of last year was never more than 500. Starting in January 2011, HECO showed usage went up slightly. In February, it spiked at almost 900 even though Feb is the shortest month of the year, and we weren't even home for 10 days that month.
That's high enough I think we can eliminate most appliances like the PC, cable box, etc. I'd still focus on the hot water usage. If a hot water pipe in the slab sprung a leak, you might never notice the moisture - only the high electric bill and higher then normal water bill. The idea of "leaking" electricity seems remote. Not impossible, but it seems unlikely that the hot has shorted to something that conductive. However, a fault in the water heater can cause it to run at low power. I know you said you have a timer on it, but it depends on if the timer controls both wires or only one.
If you can locate your water and electric meters, you can monitor them for usage and see if you can narrow it down. They might be a bit tricky to read, but I'm sure if you google, you can find out how to do it.
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