Home › Forums › WSB Reader Recommendations › Need Recommendations: Electric Bill/Electricity Conservation/Electricity Audit
- This topic has 3 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 2 months ago by beef.
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January 25, 2017 at 5:35 pm #871773
Ms_ChristinaParticipantHello fellow West Seattlites,
I know that December was a cool month for us this year, and SCL has just sent out the resulting bills. I am not too shy to say that for my 1100 square foot townhome my bill rang in at a hefty $640. I don’t know about the rest of you, but although that doesn’t mean my family will starve this month, that’s also not a sustainable number for me. Our bill for November was $288 which also seems pretty high given what I presume other people’s bills are.
I have contacted SCL and they basically told me to let them know when I am ready to pay the bill; that they won’t lift a finger to help me figure out what’s up with my bill nor are there any programs available to get to the bottom of it. (They suggested it might be my water heater, but who knows, right?)
So I am looking to you because I know this is a topic that has come up from time to time. Neighbors, do you have any advice for me to get this under control? Is there a contractor that can help me figure it out? Any and all advice is welcome and appreciated…
Best regards,
Your Neighbor.- This topic was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by Ms_Christina.
January 25, 2017 at 6:55 pm #871777
BonnieParticipantI do not have any recommendations or advice for you but I have to tell you that A LOT of people got very hefty bills last month. My September bill was $500. (we have a 3,000 sq ft house with only electricity) $500 is A LOT for the summer. Then November comes and our bill is $155. Well, it’s winter rates now and $155 is crazy low. Then January bill comes and it is $825! Last year our bill in January was around $550 (which is still high). I’ve heard from others who have had their bills double/triple this past month. I went and checked my meter and it was pretty close. I think it all has to do with the estimating they have done for so many months.
January 27, 2017 at 6:27 am #871920
mark47nParticipantElectricity is not like water, it doesn’t leak current or watts. Meters, being driven by the power that you do use, like water meters, tend to be pretty accurate, especially the meters that utilities use. The unfortunate reality is that many houses in this region aren’t built or insulated to handle the temperatures that came with this December which results in high electrical bills, especially if you have electric heat or a heat pump and/or old single pane windows. Your water heater won’t be the offending culprit. All I can tell you is the same thing I tell my kids: put on a sweater and turn down the heat.
As to an electrical audit; SCL won’t do this. They don’t care what happens in your house past the meter, that’s your problem, and they will assume, reasonably, that their meter is functioning properly. There really isn’t such a thing as an audit for residential electrical systems. I used to perform them, and load studies, for industrial facilities and they can be time intensive and costly. For a home I’d tell you to turn stuff off, like lights, but if you use mostly LED or CFL lighting that isn’t the culprit, either. I know that there are those that will tell you to worry yourself about chargers and the power used by TVs and other devices in their ‘OFF’ state but that’s so low as to be ridiculous.
At least electricity won’t undermine your foundation if the main bursts (past the meter) and it has equipment to shut it off if that main faults…but that’s another conversation entirely.
- This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by mark47n. Reason: forgotten info
January 27, 2017 at 4:27 pm #871989
beefParticipantI’m assuming everything in your house is powered by electricity? Baseboard heaters, other electric resistance heaters, or electric furnace? I’m pretty sure your water heater would not make your bill jump that much.
With these temps constantly in the 20s during December – setting your thermostat above 70 would surely drive that bill up.
you can go read your meter daily as well. Do it at the same time everyday and see how much you are using. you don;t have to wait for them to send your bill. then you can ask yourself what was running on that day.
if you have a mechanical meter, this tells you how to read it.
http://www.seattle.gov/light/paymybill/readmeter.asp
- This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by beef.
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