yes, we do. we love it. we have set up alerts to let us know if we're on track to keeping below a certain monthly amount. when we get alerts that tell us we're on track, we email each other excitedly and congratulate each other.
it also makes us more aware of peak and off-peak usage.
also, i'm saying cheap not frugal because we were sweating buckets during the past couple months while at home and would only turn the a/c on when we had company. because we didn't want the sad email saying we were over our budgeted usage.
Post by UMaineTeach on Oct 13, 2012 22:59:44 GMT -5
we have one. I don't think it has changed anything, but I don't know for sure. I have never seen our electric bill. They never sent a paper one the first month 7 years ago so DH (then FI) went online to investigate and ended up doing bill pay with his check free account.
They also either haven't fully implemented or haven't heavily advertized the tracking features
there has been no interference with my internet or tv and I don't think I have cancer from it.
Post by hereonceagain on Oct 13, 2012 23:46:16 GMT -5
We have it. Does not help because we are soooooo frugal already with our electric, gas and water that there is virtually no way for us to go lower, without enduring some suffering.
However I did see on a recent bill I think that our usage is at 10% of our average neighbors. I'm happy
No, we don't have one. I would also be unwilling to "sweat buckets" in my own home. It's a quality of life question for us. I'll pay more to be comfortable every single time.
My city has switched all residential and small business meters to smart meters - this is a mandate by the Ontario energy board in an effort to reduce province wide usage by having the day broken up into pricing grids. I personally don't know if this has been beneficial for me because my rent includes heat & hydro so the bill goes to my landlord but I do try to be mindful of what I use and when. The city is also switching everyone to water meters so you pay for the water you use (currently residents pay a flat water rate as part of the utility bill - the same company looks after electricity & water in my city).