$500 Monthly SDG&E Bill (How to reduce?)

[no_such_reality]

“We have 3 levels, each has it’s own central air system, but NONE are used. In order to cut costs over long term we’ve added separate room air conditioners/heat pumps (the ones that go through the walls) in the kids and guest bedrooms), and for the master we have installed a split level air system just for the master (all doors closed). ”

I can’t imagine this isn’t a massive part of the drain. Small room based units are horribly inefficient and in heat mode really drain.

Also, how many and how long are the lights on? Are they 60W lights or larger?

Okay, having read the rest of this thread, it’s a joke right? Many fridges, wife sets the heat to 78, AC to 65, leaves the fridge door cracked open…

Don’t underestimate the power drain by those big TVs in standby waiting for you to hit the remote on.

[sdduuuude]

Is this thread for real? Has anyone offically called “BS” on it ?

You turned off your DVRs and were worried about them getting deactivated ?

Well, if they are off, who cares if they are deactivated ? They can’t really record much if they are off, now, can they ?

[sdduuuude]

Is this thread for real? Has anyone offically called “BS” on it ?

You turned off your DVRs and were worried about them getting deactivated ?

Well, if they are off, who cares if they are deactivated ? They can’t really record much if they are off, now, can they ?

[sdduuuude]

Is this thread for real? Has anyone offically called “BS” on it ?

You turned off your DVRs and were worried about them getting deactivated ?

Well, if they are off, who cares if they are deactivated ? They can’t really record much if they are off, now, can they ?

[sdduuuude]

Is this thread for real? Has anyone offically called “BS” on it ?

You turned off your DVRs and were worried about them getting deactivated ?

Well, if they are off, who cares if they are deactivated ? They can’t really record much if they are off, now, can they ?

[sdduuuude]

Is this thread for real? Has anyone offically called “BS” on it ?

You turned off your DVRs and were worried about them getting deactivated ?

Well, if they are off, who cares if they are deactivated ? They can’t really record much if they are off, now, can they ?

[sdduuuude]

Dude,

Just skimmed through this thread for the first time. Great thread, but man – you got problems !

First, have FLU rewire your thermostat so it reads “78” when it is actually 72, unless it is Summer, then have it read 65when it is actually 72. It’s a complicated algorithm, but he seems pretty smart.

Second, the refrigerators raise a big red flag with me. We once had a 2nd fridge, then took it out and noticed a change in the bill. We have since replaced it. We love it but it is an electricity hog. Buy less wine, or have a party and drink it.

Focus on the big things first. Lights and computers seem minimal. Maybe put motion sensing swithces on them instead of different bulbs. I hate flourescents. Hate them, hate them.

Refrigerators, dehumidifiers, and heaters are important. See what you can do with those. I agree with the last poster – those single-room electircal units and the 78-degree winters are the problem. The central systems may actually be better than these single-room systems. Another tip there – get a programmable thermostat that keeps the room at (gulp) 78 until your wife is asleep, then drops down to 65, then back up to (are you kidding ?) 78 before she wakes up.

I notice our usage is lower this year but our bills are higher – can’t do anything about that.

In the name of truly identifying the causes, don’t do too much at once or you won’t know what helped.

Maybe put timers on the TVs to shut them down during non-use hours, then back on for convenience.

[sdduuuude]

Dude,

Just skimmed through this thread for the first time. Great thread, but man – you got problems !

First, have FLU rewire your thermostat so it reads “78” when it is actually 72, unless it is Summer, then have it read 65when it is actually 72. It’s a complicated algorithm, but he seems pretty smart.

Second, the refrigerators raise a big red flag with me. We once had a 2nd fridge, then took it out and noticed a change in the bill. We have since replaced it. We love it but it is an electricity hog. Buy less wine, or have a party and drink it.

Focus on the big things first. Lights and computers seem minimal. Maybe put motion sensing swithces on them instead of different bulbs. I hate flourescents. Hate them, hate them.

Refrigerators, dehumidifiers, and heaters are important. See what you can do with those. I agree with the last poster – those single-room electircal units and the 78-degree winters are the problem. The central systems may actually be better than these single-room systems. Another tip there – get a programmable thermostat that keeps the room at (gulp) 78 until your wife is asleep, then drops down to 65, then back up to (are you kidding ?) 78 before she wakes up.

I notice our usage is lower this year but our bills are higher – can’t do anything about that.

In the name of truly identifying the causes, don’t do too much at once or you won’t know what helped.

Maybe put timers on the TVs to shut them down during non-use hours, then back on for convenience.

[sdduuuude]

Dude,

Just skimmed through this thread for the first time. Great thread, but man – you got problems !

First, have FLU rewire your thermostat so it reads “78” when it is actually 72, unless it is Summer, then have it read 65when it is actually 72. It’s a complicated algorithm, but he seems pretty smart.

Second, the refrigerators raise a big red flag with me. We once had a 2nd fridge, then took it out and noticed a change in the bill. We have since replaced it. We love it but it is an electricity hog. Buy less wine, or have a party and drink it.

Focus on the big things first. Lights and computers seem minimal. Maybe put motion sensing swithces on them instead of different bulbs. I hate flourescents. Hate them, hate them.

Refrigerators, dehumidifiers, and heaters are important. See what you can do with those. I agree with the last poster – those single-room electircal units and the 78-degree winters are the problem. The central systems may actually be better than these single-room systems. Another tip there – get a programmable thermostat that keeps the room at (gulp) 78 until your wife is asleep, then drops down to 65, then back up to (are you kidding ?) 78 before she wakes up.

I notice our usage is lower this year but our bills are higher – can’t do anything about that.

In the name of truly identifying the causes, don’t do too much at once or you won’t know what helped.

Maybe put timers on the TVs to shut them down during non-use hours, then back on for convenience.

[sdduuuude]

Dude,

Just skimmed through this thread for the first time. Great thread, but man – you got problems !

First, have FLU rewire your thermostat so it reads “78” when it is actually 72, unless it is Summer, then have it read 65when it is actually 72. It’s a complicated algorithm, but he seems pretty smart.

Second, the refrigerators raise a big red flag with me. We once had a 2nd fridge, then took it out and noticed a change in the bill. We have since replaced it. We love it but it is an electricity hog. Buy less wine, or have a party and drink it.

Focus on the big things first. Lights and computers seem minimal. Maybe put motion sensing swithces on them instead of different bulbs. I hate flourescents. Hate them, hate them.

Refrigerators, dehumidifiers, and heaters are important. See what you can do with those. I agree with the last poster – those single-room electircal units and the 78-degree winters are the problem. The central systems may actually be better than these single-room systems. Another tip there – get a programmable thermostat that keeps the room at (gulp) 78 until your wife is asleep, then drops down to 65, then back up to (are you kidding ?) 78 before she wakes up.

I notice our usage is lower this year but our bills are higher – can’t do anything about that.

In the name of truly identifying the causes, don’t do too much at once or you won’t know what helped.

Maybe put timers on the TVs to shut them down during non-use hours, then back on for convenience.

[sdduuuude]

Dude,

Just skimmed through this thread for the first time. Great thread, but man – you got problems !

First, have FLU rewire your thermostat so it reads “78” when it is actually 72, unless it is Summer, then have it read 65when it is actually 72. It’s a complicated algorithm, but he seems pretty smart.

Second, the refrigerators raise a big red flag with me. We once had a 2nd fridge, then took it out and noticed a change in the bill. We have since replaced it. We love it but it is an electricity hog. Buy less wine, or have a party and drink it.

Focus on the big things first. Lights and computers seem minimal. Maybe put motion sensing swithces on them instead of different bulbs. I hate flourescents. Hate them, hate them.

Refrigerators, dehumidifiers, and heaters are important. See what you can do with those. I agree with the last poster – those single-room electircal units and the 78-degree winters are the problem. The central systems may actually be better than these single-room systems. Another tip there – get a programmable thermostat that keeps the room at (gulp) 78 until your wife is asleep, then drops down to 65, then back up to (are you kidding ?) 78 before she wakes up.

I notice our usage is lower this year but our bills are higher – can’t do anything about that.

In the name of truly identifying the causes, don’t do too much at once or you won’t know what helped.

Maybe put timers on the TVs to shut them down during non-use hours, then back on for convenience.

[poway_seller]

sdduuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude. Yeah, I really want to waste my time with a bs posting about saving money on electrical bills. Why don’t you take the snapshot of my electical usage, call SDG&E and ask them if the KwH’s I listed match up with the dollar amounts I posted. That’ll shut you up quickly.

on another note, i agree worrying about lightbulbs and phone chargers isn’t going to make much of an impact when there are 3 fridges, 2 dehumidifiers, and 2 room AC/Heaters in use.

Perhaps this “experiment” will just prove to me that I just need to “live with it”. At the least I’ll know that the annoying task of turning off all lights, unplugging random things, etc isn’t worth the hassle for the amount of money it actually saves me.

Like you’ve all said, it isn’t an apartment. I’ll report back at bill time.

[poway_seller]

sdduuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude. Yeah, I really want to waste my time with a bs posting about saving money on electrical bills. Why don’t you take the snapshot of my electical usage, call SDG&E and ask them if the KwH’s I listed match up with the dollar amounts I posted. That’ll shut you up quickly.

on another note, i agree worrying about lightbulbs and phone chargers isn’t going to make much of an impact when there are 3 fridges, 2 dehumidifiers, and 2 room AC/Heaters in use.

Perhaps this “experiment” will just prove to me that I just need to “live with it”. At the least I’ll know that the annoying task of turning off all lights, unplugging random things, etc isn’t worth the hassle for the amount of money it actually saves me.

Like you’ve all said, it isn’t an apartment. I’ll report back at bill time.

[poway_seller]

sdduuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude. Yeah, I really want to waste my time with a bs posting about saving money on electrical bills. Why don’t you take the snapshot of my electical usage, call SDG&E and ask them if the KwH’s I listed match up with the dollar amounts I posted. That’ll shut you up quickly.

on another note, i agree worrying about lightbulbs and phone chargers isn’t going to make much of an impact when there are 3 fridges, 2 dehumidifiers, and 2 room AC/Heaters in use.

Perhaps this “experiment” will just prove to me that I just need to “live with it”. At the least I’ll know that the annoying task of turning off all lights, unplugging random things, etc isn’t worth the hassle for the amount of money it actually saves me.

Like you’ve all said, it isn’t an apartment. I’ll report back at bill time.

[poway_seller]

sdduuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude. Yeah, I really want to waste my time with a bs posting about saving money on electrical bills. Why don’t you take the snapshot of my electical usage, call SDG&E and ask them if the KwH’s I listed match up with the dollar amounts I posted. That’ll shut you up quickly.

on another note, i agree worrying about lightbulbs and phone chargers isn’t going to make much of an impact when there are 3 fridges, 2 dehumidifiers, and 2 room AC/Heaters in use.

Perhaps this “experiment” will just prove to me that I just need to “live with it”. At the least I’ll know that the annoying task of turning off all lights, unplugging random things, etc isn’t worth the hassle for the amount of money it actually saves me.

Like you’ve all said, it isn’t an apartment. I’ll report back at bill time.

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