ugh. unexpected expense.

[hamster]

I would turn off the lights that are on outside all day. What's the point?

But I do find it odd that you're fretting over $35 when you're buying bricks all over town just to see your name...

[cahabalily]

Your electric bill was $20 a month? That's all?

And now it's just $55 a month?

And to answer your question, yes, I would put all of the lights on a motion sensor.

Really, the total electric is just $55?

[Deleted]

Sept 19, 2012 10:21:26 GMT -5 hamster said:

I would turn off the lights that are on outside all day. What's the point?

But I do find it odd that you're fretting over $35 when you're buying bricks all over town just to see your name...

:Y:

[mrssandro]

Side eye that your complaining about a increase of your outrageously low electric bill.

[smiley]

Would it be possible to get outdoor lights that run on solar power so you would eliminate the outside lighting bill.

www.amazon.com/Solar-Powered-Security-Motion-Detector/dp/B001PENCNW

[womet]

If you are stressing over an increase of $35 for the power bill, then it sounds like you couldn't afford the house in the first place. Or you need to re-evaluate where you are spending your money.

[LoveTrains]

I am in awe that your electric is so low.

Mine is $198/month on the budget plan (pay the same amount each month).

[zombiemuse]

Aren't you the one who also just bought your sister a $500 suit? Or am I mixing you up with someone else?

I get the increase sucks, especially after installing energy efficient light bulbs but I'm personally confused. Some of your posts make it sound like your swimming in dough ala Duck Tales and now you're cutting it close month to month? Just doesn't make sense.

To answer your question, I'd have them on a sensor that would turn them on when someone walked by.

[ijack]

I don't really know how to respond to this

[Susie]

So you bought a house,
- knowing it would make you house poor,
- that is larger than your previous house, but expected monthly expenses to remain the same,
- and then made improvements to the house that run off utility service and still thought monthly expenses would stay the same,

and now you want to know whether you should refrain from using the improvements you just put in?



I'm really not sure what I can say at this point that would be helpful. Next time buy light fixtures that use CFL or LED bulbs that draw less power?

[ohgillian]

I would point this thread out to the person recently who asked, "Why does anyone ever use an AE on this board?" and then acted as if she didn't understand that people will bring up later things you previously posted. Whoever you were: here you go.

[Deleted]

I live in SoCal in a new super energy efficient house by the beach. My electric bill is still $200/month.

[sparkles17]

I would KILL for a $55 electric bill. I've never had one under $100. Do you work by candlelight normally or something?

[Deleted]

I don't air dry my sheets though. That's probably the problem.

[kadams767]

I don't understand how you thought you could leave a light on all night and have a bigger house without increasing your utility costs. And seriously, if you live in SoCal, aren't you running AC pretty frequently? $55 a month sounds like a steal.

[kadams767]

Sept 19, 2012 10:37:52 GMT -5 @jimbooo said:

Sept 19, 2012 10:35:20 GMT -5 Susie said:

So you bought a house,
- knowing it would make you house poor,
- that is larger than your previous house, but expected monthly expenses to remain the same,
- and then made improvements to the house that run off utility service and still thought monthly expenses would stay the same,

and now you want to know whether you should refrain from using the improvements you just put in?



I'm really not sure what I can say at this point that would be helpful. Next time buy light fixtures that use CFL or LED bulbs that draw less power?

omg, i cannot believe how much reading comprehension failure there's been here lately! READ please!!! We did many renovations that changed old energy sucking appliances to energy star. Our bill was only $10 more in the new house prior to renovations. With all the energy star improvements, YES! we expected that our electricity would not increase that much.

How many bills did you have that were $30? Are you sure those are exact readings and not estimates? What about AC costs?

[Deleted]

Sept 19, 2012 10:40:19 GMT -5 kadams767 said:

I don't understand how you thought you could leave a light on all night and have a bigger house without increasing your utility costs. And seriously, if you live in SoCal, aren't you running AC pretty frequently? $55 a month sounds like a steal.

This is a very strange post. I don't think electricity is any cheaper in SoCal than elsewhere. And why make improvements if you can't afford to use them.

[ohgillian]

I'll answer your original question: I would set all the outdoor lights to only come on if someone walks by; I wouldn't have any of them on dusk-to-dawn mode. I just don't see the point of that.

[kadams767]

Sept 19, 2012 10:42:27 GMT -5 elle said:

Sept 19, 2012 10:40:19 GMT -5 kadams767 said:

I don't understand how you thought you could leave a light on all night and have a bigger house without increasing your utility costs. And seriously, if you live in SoCal, aren't you running AC pretty frequently? $55 a month sounds like a steal.

This is a very strange post. I don't think electricity is any cheaper in SoCal than elsewhere. And why make improvements if you can't afford to use them.

Huh? What about my post is strange?

[sprky79]

What about solar powered?

[Daria Morgandorffer]

If a $55 electric bill is a problem, WTF are you going to do when your fridge breaks or your furnace dies?

[Deleted]

If $35 a month is a lot, you're house poor. Stop trying to rationalize it.

[cahabalily]

Wait - you take showers by moonlight or sunlight?

You shower without lights on? That's insane. What do you think is powering your water heater? Even if it's a gas water heater, the ignition switch is still electric.

This just makes no sense whatsoever.

[Deleted]

MM is moody. Of course it's annoying to have a budget and have to cut back your savings because your electric bill is higher.

Switch it to a motion detector and be done. Solar-powered would've been greener. :-)

[cahabalily]

Sept 19, 2012 10:41:04 GMT -5 @jimbooo said:

Sept 19, 2012 10:38:47 GMT -5 @sparkles17 said:

I would KILL for a $55 electric bill. I've never had one under $100. Do you work by candlelight normally or something?

HAHA!!! no, but we are very good about shutting everything off. Sometimes I even like to take showers by moonlight or sunlight.

I'm very curious though to see what other so cal peeps pay. Because I've lived in about 5 places here and our bill has never been over $50 and 75% of the time it's been under $30. We are So Cal Edison.

Just going to leave this here so it doesn't go *poof*

[agnes]

Sept 19, 2012 10:42:16 GMT -5 kadams767 said:

How many bills did you have that were $30? Are you sure those are exact readings and not estimates? What about AC costs?

I'm wondering if might have something to do with estimate/exact readings as well.

This happened to us before where it went from $30 to $70 in one month. It sucked, but they over estimated and then credited the overage on the next bill.

[ohgillian]

Sept 19, 2012 10:48:24 GMT -5 cahabalily said:

Wait - you take showers by moonlight or sunlight?

You shower without lights on? That's insane. What do you think is powering your water heater? Even if it's a gas water heater, the ignition switch is still electric.

This just makes no sense whatsoever.

I agree that there's something off about worrying over $35/month, but I don't see a problem with showering without the lights on, especially when it's daylight outside. Our bathroom is plenty bright w/o lights.

[Deleted]

Sept 19, 2012 10:44:25 GMT -5 Daria Morgandorffer said:

If a $55 electric bill is a problem, WTF are you going to do when your fridge breaks or your furnace dies?

This is where I'm at...

I have unexpected expenses all the damn time, and if they were only $35 I'd be doing cartwheels through MM.

[cookies]

Sept 19, 2012 10:49:53 GMT -5 cahabalily said:

Sept 19, 2012 10:41:04 GMT -5 @jimbooo said:

HAHA!!! no, but we are very good about shutting everything off. Sometimes I even like to take showers by moonlight or sunlight.

I'm very curious though to see what other so cal peeps pay. Because I've lived in about 5 places here and our bill has never been over $50 and 75% of the time it's been under $30. We are So Cal Edison.

Just going to leave this here so it doesn't go *poof*

I don't see what the big deal is about this. I don't always turn the lights on when I shower. If your bathroom has windows, natural lighting is enough. I find it to be more relaxing with the lights off.

[cahabalily]

But moonlight? Seriously?