How to get my electric bill back down...
By coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17797)
United States
February 9, 2009 7:39pm CST
My electric bill just went up $10 last month. Now I conserve like nobody does! I never run the heater (gas), I just bundle up and add blankets and drink some hot tea and it is just fine. I wash dishes by hand, (just me) don't use the dishwasher, use my washer and dryer before 7am and after 7pm when they say rates are cheaper. I don't run the AC in the summer time and the list goes on about what I don't do to not use electricity! THere really isn't more that I can do.. and then here comes the bill for $10 more this month. I think it is cause of the higher winter rates but still.. if I am not using any more...why are they higher on my bill! I only have been using $1 a day! Now it goes up $10.
So I think more of what to do. I dont' watch much tv as there just isn't anything worth wasting the electricity on, but when I do watch, it is usually a DVD from a box set of a tv show of the past (current ones are crap!) sitcoms usually. So I was thinking, depending on the price of a portable DVD player...
which uses more electricity... a portable DVD player or the TV with the DVD player?
Aslo, I had heard PC's don't really use that much, but do they? I turn mine off at bedtime, start it in the am and then turn it off for a few hours in the afternoon... Any cost efficient way of altering the electricity for a PC?
3 people like this
4 responses
@bfarrier1 (2082)
• United States
10 Feb 09
Well I dont know what else you could possibly do but have you tried the energy efficient light bulbs I use those and to start with they cost more but I havent had to buy light bulbs in over a year and my electric bill did go down some after I started using those.Electric here in Missouri is getting ready to go up they say 6 dollars a month but we will see.I hope I helped some you have a great night.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
10 Feb 09
Par to my problem there is in this apartment, they only have fixtures that allow certain kinds of bulbs - there for they will change and replace the bulbs but it is what they want notwhat I want or is economical. But I keep them off most of the time.. turn the light of in one room as I leave it and turn one on in the room I am going to. The problme with those energy efficient bulbs -t he ones that are the white coils...t hey are not that bright and for desk work and reading, I need a brighter light! So I have things situated to where I only use those brighter bulbs for jus those things nad not daily.
Yes I heard here in CA that Edison has asked hte state to allow an increase of about $5 a month. Isn't that just the best thing to do? Unemployment in this state is probably equal to the national fiures, and since many can't afford the current rates..... let's raise rates! Supposed to hit us this summer... like it did last summer!
@playapal (894)
• United States
10 Feb 09
I agree with bfarrier1 that it sure sounds like you are doing everything possible. I live in Mexico and here they have 3 tiers of electricity. One for the poor, one for middle class and one for resorts and the wealthy. I work very hard to stay on the lowest tier. I unplug everything possible, coffee maker, Tv's etc. I keep all my laptop and computers on a powerstrip and turn off every nite, never leave lites on, cook with gas etc. I have managed by hard work to keep my electric bill around $50. Just stay with it, they raise our rates here in the winter also, so it's not so easy. Good luck!
@GardenGerty (169449)
• United States
10 Feb 09
I have heard that anything that you do not use constantly still draws power if plugged in, so you should shut it down, and unplug it. Things like chargers for things. Your TV. Maybe a radio, unless there is a clock that you want to keep accurate.Get those energy saver bulbs for your lights, too.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
10 Feb 09
My pc is plugged to a power surge strip that is behind the desk and hard to get to to turn off. and my tv has the only clock in the house on it!
@GardenGerty (169449)
• United States
10 Feb 09
I have heard that anything that you do not use constantly still draws power if plugged in, so you should shut it down, and unplug it. Things like chargers for things. Your TV. Maybe a radio, unless there is a clock that you want to keep accurate.Get those energy saver bulbs for your lights, too.
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
10 Feb 09
Do all that too. I have to leave my tv plugged in as that has the cable box with the only clock in the house!
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
16 Mar 09
It might be worth it to you to buy a cheap clock and unplug the TV. I was amazed at how much my electric bill went up when I bought a TV and left it plugged in all the time. I got a power strip and it gets turned off when I'm not watching it now!
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
10 Feb 09
A little adds up to alot! I prefer sleeping in cooler temps anyway...I sleep better
