Need some of FRF's members electric usage.

pooleo · #1 08-27-2011, 03:34 PM

We have been having one hellova time with our electic company. Most folks around here are paying around 80-100 a month for electric. Thing is, our electric jumps so high. Actual meter reads can vary from 1300kw one month to 2600kw the next. Nothing changes from day to day as far as what is on to cause this type of hike. I want to get some data from you guys on how many kilowatts you use per day. Take last months or whatever, divide by 31, then divide by days to get a rough daily watts used. Only thing electric in our house is water heater. I will take guys whose house is all electric or not, I just want to get some type of data on national average here to see were im at. This months bill was $344. To some thats nothing, but here, its extremely high.

Basic day here is computer, (1) 42" lcd, (2) ceiling fans, (1 window AC), Fridge (newer energy eff.) Chest Freezer (old, 15yrs) variuos lights (bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, etc)

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I found some online data for US nationl average per day is 35.7. wich includes swimming pool pumps, central air, and a lot of goodies I dont have. My daily usage is 59.28. something has got to be wrong here!

OhioMike · #2 08-27-2011, 04:20 PM

Did you ever have your wiring looked at? How old is your house? All it takes is one outlet to be bad, and you could have a problem. I do not have a bill handy, and I can tell you that my mom has a 4 bedroom bungalow and pays less than $200 a month in electricity, which includes two fridges and a full freezer. She doesn't keep the air on very cool, but still it seems like you are paying an awful lot. In comparison, I live in an apt., and my bill rarely gets over $100. In the winter, we have gas heat, so my electric is in the $40 range, and in summer (with air set no lower than 74 degrees), are bill is around $80+. Our rates just went up and sometimes the electric company estimates usage incorrectly (since I've gotten partial credits several times in the past). Anyway, I was bummed because last month we received the largest bill ever at $104. Our electric company lists the last 12 months of usage on our bill. I will double-check our next statement and let you know.

I reread your post, and something seems wrong with your meter. If every month, you run the same appliances for the same length then your bills should be consistent like mine. You would almost certainly have a wiring problem inside or outside of your house. Couldn't the meter be shot? I know the gas company verifies inside and outside meter usage to prevent tampering. I don't know if the electric co. can do the same. Maybe it would be worth investigating or calling an electrician.

OhSoLowBoxBdy · #3 08-27-2011, 04:28 PM

We have five Tvs four computers and our Ac is always set on 60 and our electric bill is 50 a month

Fightinirish157 · #4 08-27-2011, 04:43 PM

Summer I use around 55 to 60 a day been as low as 45 and as high as 90...but that's with the AC running, and on the high days we prob did laundry and dishes too. In the winter I am around. 15 to 45 a day, but our heater is gas, but that rarely gets used, the main power sucker at my house in the AC, but when its 115 or so out and the air is at 78ish it cycles on and off about every 15 to 30 minutes, I would see if your power company does free checks or stuff, I know we can have ours come out and they will check for faulty outlets and sources that might drain power.

wyman00 · #5 08-27-2011, 04:49 PM

Your electric company should have some type of device they can place on your meter to record your usage. I work for an electric company, so I know they have them. Idk what they are called though.

pooleo · #6 08-27-2011, 05:08 PM

I got a watt - hour meter reader thingy. Im going to go room by room and see what all my stuff is drawing to start. If that checks out then I guess its on the the wiring. My only thought is that the "wiring" is using more then what "I" am using. The meter outside is going to read whats "Being Used" wether its the plug in stuff or not. Something is definatly wrong somewhere.

2 things come to mind for the problem.

1) A couple years ago our water heater blew out the bottom of the tank. It was one wall thickness from the fuse box. About 2' of cable to run it. I then moved it to the basement in the corner. About 30' linear and I used about 50' of 10-3 cable, wired it for 220 of course. Is the cable not big enough for the length..

2) The main feed from the meter goes into an outside fus box attached to the basement. Then, goes into the basement and up into the house fuse box. The service for the house is 100amp. But im not sure on the amps of the outside box. For some reason I think its a 60amp service. So, would the first 60amp box, only carry 60 into the 100amp home service

And if the house is trying to draw say 70amps, is that causing the meter to use power like crazy?

Really the only "big" things we have are the water heater and the chest freezer.

Also, Damage to the wiring is highly likely because we have no attic space. Its the roof, then ceiling. There is seriously about 5" from the shingles to the inside of the ceiling. Wiring up there could be saturated (since the roof is shit) and causing a problem, but maybe not enough to trip a breaker, but just use up juice. Maybe something like an earth ground, where the juice just flows..???

DadsFordGirl · #7 08-27-2011, 05:16 PM

I live in a single bed room apartment. One TV, a few lamps, 3 fans, one laptop, a fridge and electric stove/oven. I'm not sure about my watt usage but my monthly bill is usually around $70.

pooleo · #8 08-27-2011, 05:16 PM

Here is a pic of the bill. Look close at Jul of 2010 (still pissed about this) Then notice Jan-Feb-Mar-Apr. Those are ACTUAL readings, not estimated. What justifies a 1000w difference from Jan-Feb, Feb-Mar.

I also have pic of the outside service.

I have also used 24kw since this thread started

Pasco08 · #9 08-27-2011, 06:21 PM

My Bill for a two bedroom two bath townhome is $159 a month have three tv's two laptops AC is set at 68 various lights and so on.

wyman00 · #10 08-27-2011, 06:42 PM

[QUOTE=pooleo;533095]
1) A couple years ago our water heater blew out the bottom of the tank. It was one wall thickness from the fuse box. About 2' of cable to run it. I then moved it to the basement in the corner. About 30' linear and I used about 50' of 10-3 cable, wired it for 220 of course. Is the cable not big enough for the length..

2) The main feed from the meter goes into an outside fus box attached to the basement. Then, goes into the basement and up into the house fuse box. The service for the house is 100amp. But im not sure on the amps of the outside box. For some reason I think its a 60amp service. So, would the first 60amp box, only carry 60 into the 100amp home service

And if the house is trying to draw say 70amps, is that causing the meter to use power like crazy?

QUOTE]

The length of your 10-3 is not an issue. that is a short run of wire.

And I dont think your outside 60 amp service would be a problem either. All the wires and breakers are usually under-rated for what they will actually handle, load wise.

That being said...I still don't know what your problem could be.

pooleo · #11 08-27-2011, 06:43 PM

so far we have eliminated the master bedroom with

TV- $19/month(if 24hr/day-ON) (OFF-$10)
PS3-$9/ month
A/C1- $30 month
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Computer room.

Desktop/2 monitors/radio reciever and EQ - $10.85/month
A/C2 (compliments of Demon) - $4.01 / month

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Kitchen is next

So far if everything listed is ran 24/7 It would cost $72

greybeard · #12 08-27-2011, 06:52 PM

FWIW, our consumption on rural property, well, water heater, stove, fridge, cistern pump, is 20kwh for each of july and august. We have electric heat, which is off now but will soon start to be used.
I'd ask for some comparisons from neighbors and if it is way off, try to build a case to ask for a meter replacement. They ARE man made and do go in trouble. Something I would hope the utility would be on the lookout for.
Hope this helps.
Richard

Pasco08 · #13 08-27-2011, 06:53 PM

Jason how much is a killowwat (SP?) an hour there?

pooleo · #14 08-27-2011, 06:56 PM

we are paying .113 after all the "extra charges"

They also have some BS crap they pulled this year, any usage over 600kw goes from.01 to .14! so on lour last bill, 600kw at the normal rate then the 14xx at .14! they say they do this from july-sept because of "extra demand" on the system.

Pasco08 · #15 08-27-2011, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pooleo

we are paying .113 after all the "extra charges"

They also have some BS crap they pulled this year, any usage over 600kw goes from.01 to .14! so on lour last bill, 600kw at the normal rate then the 14xx at .14! they say they do this from july-sept because of "extra demand" on the system.

That's confusing as hell. They sound like Verizon with my cell phone bill.