Trying to be Smart about Smart Days
@bagarad (14283)
Paso Robles, California
August 19, 2015 1:43am CST
I mentioned in a recent discussion that I had signed up for the PG&E Smart Day program to try to save on my electric bills. That means I have to be willing to cut way back on using electricity between 2 and 7 whenever they call a Smart Day. They can only give me 15 smart days a year. I wasn't expecting two in a row, but that's what they gave me. Yesterday and today were both Smart Days. I hope I made smart use of them.
Yesterday I turned off the computers and air conditioning and sat and read until 4. Then I went to Atascadero to buy shoes. Shopping is always nice because you can stay cool with air conditioning others pay for. After that I went for a short walk in a park I haven't visited for years to try to get new photos for my blog. But it was too hot, so I went to another store, and then another. I also visited the Atascadero library to see if they had books I couldn't find at my own library. I finally made it to the Paso Robles Library to read my book at about 6:30. I stayed until just before the library closed because I wanted to finish my book, and I knew my husband would turn on the TV as soon as he got home after 7.
Today I read until the gardener came and started making noise – about 3. I had started another book, so I went directly to the library and sat there and read until I finished the book about 6:50. I got home just after 7, had a snack, changed, and went to the gym.
I think I could learn to love Smart Days as long as they are on days when the library is open.
Do you think I made smart use of my Smart Days?
4 people like this
5 responses
@Shellyann36 (11383)
• United States
19 Aug 15
Sounds as if you made great use of the smart days. Our electric company does not offer any sort of advantages such as that. We always try to be frugal because our house is huge and can really run up the electric bill if we don't watch our usage.
2 people like this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
20 Aug 15
It doesn't take much to run up and electric bill these days.
@Gina145 (3949)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
19 Aug 15
You made very good use of your days. I wish things were that simple when we have scheduled power cuts here. Unfortunately sometimes they only cut our power after dark and I don't like to go out late at night to escape the darkness. Fortunately it's been a while since we've had one, but it could happen any day.
1 person likes this
@Gina145 (3949)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
20 Aug 15
@bagarad Actually the ones it's really tough for are the people who work full time, then come home and try to cook dinner, only they haven't got electricity to do so. And I'm more concerned about missing my favourite TV shows than not being able to get online, because our power is always back by about 10pm. As a night owl that still leaves me plenty of computer time and if I really want to write before that I can do it on paper 
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
21 Aug 15
It's inconvenient, so I'm hoping I save enough to make it worth it.
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
20 Aug 15
I'm going to have to cut my usage all I can for the rest of the month on every day or I will move into the higher rate schedule again.
