My electric bill:(

Ok guys I need some input here.

My electric bill was $120 this month. Now, thats not that much compared to my old bill, at the old house. However I have a Wood burning stove now.
The thing is, its all electricity. The gas was only $16 lol. So much for trying to save money by getting firewood:O

I am trying to figure out what is causing this, and I am hoping you guys can help me.

This is a very old house. Built in 1936, remodeled in 1950-something.

Here are some things that I think may be causing it.

Mercury Vapor bulb for dragon? Didn't appear to affect the bill at the other place.

The dryer that came in the house, its not energy star rated. It works great, but I am afraid its a little too great lol.

Flex watt on the snakes cages?

Regular incandescent light bulbs? I will be switching to the coily kind.

Now my kids are trained.. that means at 4 and 5 the yell at me when I forget to turn off a light, or leave the water running while brushing my teeth lol. In all seriousness, they do help by making sure the lights are off if they aren't using them etc...

I will start turning off my computer at night or when not in use too.

Other than that, I can't think of anything else. Help:O
I was hoping to save so much money this winter with all this lovely firewood.

Well, seeing as how everything is getting more expensive, is it really your useage, or is the wattage getting more expensive per unit?

Well, I am not sure what it is per kilowatt but I know there have been no rate increases in a while.

It has to be something in the house that is causing it. The only thing different other than the house since we moved, is the dryer that came with the house. Could that make it jump another $60 a month? I do have to do a lot of laundry with two little ones, and a husband that builds houses:) but no more than before.

Turning your computer off at night will help a lot.

Have you considered getting a natural gas dryer? That would help very much given that kids generate a lot of laundry and so I'm sure your dryer is used a lot. Even upgrading to an energy star electric would help, though gas would be even better :gj:

Flex watt, RHP's, etc., won't really ding usage and I have no idea about the bulb...

there are meters you can buy...I think there's one called 'Kill-o-watt' that you plug in-line with a device and it will measure the draw. You can play detective :gj:

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Originally Posted by starmom

Turning your computer off at night will help a lot.

Have you considered getting a natural gas dryer? That would help very much given that kids generate a lot of laundry and so I'm sure your dryer is used a lot. Even upgrading to an energy star electric would help, though gas would be even better :gj:

Flex watt, RHP's, etc., won't really ding usage and I have no idea about the bulb...

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Yeah I just went and looked at bills from the old house and this house. The usage has doubled. There was a small increase but it was before we moved.

I am going to have the hubby and brother in law bring in my dryer from the garage. Its not the newest but way newer than the one in the house, much more efficient, and energy star rated. I will see if that makes any difference. I am sure it will.

Stay tuned for next months bill lol

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Originally Posted by fishmommy

there are meters you can buy...I think there's one called 'Kill-o-watt' that you plug in-line with a device and it will measure the draw. You can play detective :gj:

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Hey that kind of sounds like fun:)

I will have to see if I can find one of those!

we have one and it's been loads of fun

my spouse likes to remind me of how much heating all my fish and snakes costs us each month. good times :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by fishmommy

we have one and it's been loads of fun

my spouse likes to remind me of how much heating all my fish and snakes costs us each month. good times :rolleyes:

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Oh great.. I can just see Shaun now..
"See look at how much hidden costs go with these guys" Lol.

I will just remind him of how much food that Tegu he wants is going to consume. Don't need a meter for that. :D

When I lived in VA my electric bill was regularly about $100