OK, I'm sure that there are lots of you off-grid and folks that do this well on a regular basis, but I just had to brag that my last 2 utility bills were $33 ans $28 respectively. This is for my house and barn. I work pretty hard to keep it down, but do run incubators and brooders. I have a refridgerator and freezer. I use wind up clocks and keep all other appliances unplugged when not in use. I use a fan in this horrible humidity, but not often. ( i want to ad that I am comfortable, not miserable!LOL) Any tips for keeping the bill down, especially in the winter when I have to run the fan on the heater? Dianne

-- Dianne (yankeeterrier@hotmail.com), August 02, 2001

Answers

Keep your thermostat at 68 or below,no matter how cold outside.if you get cold cover up or put on extra clothes or do some work. Thats what I tell my kids in winter and my electric bills are less in winter then summer for us. I also tell them that keeping it cool keeps them healthy. It is true though so I'm not lieing, germs do not breed well in cold. They believe me now cause for the last two winters the kids and us combined have had 2 colds.

-- TomK(mich) (tjk@cac.net), August 02, 2001.

Wow, Dianne, I'm really impressed. What area of the country are you in, may I ask? I think it depends on the cost per kilowatt hour or something, too. We try to be thrifty with the electricity, but I sure don't do that well! Have to admit, we have a lot of little things plugged in that are probably zapping the juice! Jan in CO

-- Jan in Co (Janice12@aol.com), August 02, 2001.

You're doing great, Diane, but my electric bill isn't too bad either. I've been running a small AC day and night along with several fans(temps over 100), a big submersible water pump, electric range, and a number of small appliances--all for $38. If you're wondering where, it's Kansas.

-- Lois (loiskimb@hotmail.com), August 02, 2001.

I forgot to ask in my above post Does unplugging appliances really save electric? I mean either way a, plugged or unplugged outlet, isn't it leaking electric all the same?

-- TomK (mich) (tjk@cac.net), August 02, 2001.

Wow! Can't even imagine. My electric bill averages about $200.00 a month year-round. These last two months it's been up to almost $300.00 each month. We run our a/c year-round. In fact it rarely shuts off. T.V. seems to always be on too. Ahhhhh the price we have to pay to live in this tropical (Florida) climate!! LOL

-- Greenthumbelina (sck8107@aol.com), August 02, 2001.

Tom, Electic is not leaking out. Phantom currents can rob LOTS of power if your not carefull. instand On TVs use power when off to keep channel information, run timers and provide voltage to the picutre tube so it can come on when you hit the on button. Remmebers the olden days when you have a long period of time before you saw a picture? VCRs, stereos , about anything with a clock in it draws power when off. Even your CGCI's draw power when not in use.

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), August 02, 2001.

I think anything that uses one of the "little black cubes" as a plug in is constantly using electricity too.

-- Joy F [in So. Wisconsin] (CatFlunky@excite.com), August 02, 2001.

Hi Dianne my elect. bill was 60.00 not bad but my water bill is 50.25 this month Bob se,ks. ps lois what part u from?

-- Bobco (bobco@hit.net), August 02, 2001.

My electric year round is like 40-60. 40 summer and 50 or 60 in the winter. What really saves allot is a gas BBQ. You can fill those tanks up for 12 dollars and it's lasts forever. I never used to use my range hardly at all except for the goats and cows milk. But the huge Oak lost a huge branch this spring and wasted my gas BBQ. I mean flattened it. I miss it and need to fix it or get another. I even canned on it. You just have to be carefull taking the jars out of the water in the outdoor breeze. I have a wood cookstove, but we haven't built the outdoor kitchen yet.

-- Cindy in KY (solidrockranch@msn.com), August 02, 2001.

Holy cow!! I'm moving out of California to Kansas next to Lois!!

One big way to save is just leave your waterheater all the way down until you need it. ..Kirk

-- Kirk Davis (kirkay@yahoo.com), August 02, 2001.

Joy F, if you mean the 'plug pack' transformers that are used with small appliances and devices then yes they are constantly consuming a little electricty which you can easily prove by feeling if they are warm, warmth equals wasted electricity.

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), August 03, 2001.

Anything with a transformer wastes electricity. A cordless phone for example will use energy even if the phone isn't charging. Leviton makes a nice two-prong plug in switch if you're concerned about wear and tear from constantly unplugging a cord. I'm in southern California and my electric bill(so cal edison) averages $35 a month. I use the a/c sparingly. I use an electric stove and dishwasher daily. I pack my freezer with plastic bottles of ice in all the empty spaces, that keeps the temp steadier and is good if the power goes out. I have an electric washer and dryer I run about 6 loads a week in. Most of the lightbulbs I use are 25 or 60w and if they're not in use, they're off. I don't use a tv.

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), August 03, 2001.

We live in California and our electric bill runs 40-60 per month, year around. We have a 20 year old refer and a fairly new freezer, electric pump in well, electric stove. Hot water is propane, which is also very expensive here. We hang our clothes to dry and unplugged the hot tub when the energy crunch hit. OH, we also use a water cooler for the house, temps here are 90's to 100's May into Oct. Hubby said he'd build me a solar oven for baking bread. Anyone out there build and use one? Would be interested in what type and plans. Have seen plans in CS.

-- cindy palmer (jandcpalmer@sierratel.com), August 05, 2001.

Cindy, I'm interested in how well your water cooler works in keeping your house cool, and what does your system consist of? Thanks, Jason

-- Jason Kendrick (390fe@ford-trucks.net), August 05, 2001.

Cindy I'm also interested in the water cooler. How does that work?

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), August 05, 2001.

My friend made up a special cable so he can measure the power consumption of various appliances, he found his TV and his VCR both consumed 12watts in the 'standby' mode. 12watts is not much but it is one killowatt hour every 3 1/2 days or so

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), August 06, 2001.

For those who asked, I'm in SW Wisconsin. I'm sure my bill will be higher this month as I have had the fan running all the time with this ridiculous heat! I am down to one incubator and one brooder, so maybe that with help offset the difference. I keep the appliances unplugged since all those stupid timers, clocks, etc do drain power. I do all my summer cooking outside too, that keeps the house cooler too. Now, I just have to get rid of these flys!

-- Dianne (yankeeterrier@hotmail.com), August 06, 2001.

It has been HOT here and my electric bill last month was $160.00. Mostly for AC, I'm sure,plus two refrigerators and cooking (stove & oven). The AC is really too small for the house and will run all the time if I let it (cools if off to 80). My gas bill was over $50.00 -- for hot water heater, very limited use of dryer and BBQ grill. Seems no matter what I do, it doesn't help. Hubby said he will crawl in the attic (when it cools off) and put more insulation on the west side. This is very frustrating!

-- connie in nm (karrellewis@aol.com), August 06, 2001.