Our Electricity Use TRIPLED!

[audsbodkins]

How much more electricity does the AC use since the temperature outside is 10 hotter than last summer?

Our electricity usage is TRIPLE what it was last summer.

The outside temp is only difference. Since we keep our thermostat at 80...

Is this increase consistent with the temperature rise?

Even with balanced billing, our bill increased by $80 :frown:

[oceanbreeze]

I don't have an answer for you, i'm sorry. Just wanted to share that you are not alone- our borough is raising electric bills by 68% next year.

68%!!!

I cringe at the thought of what it will be like for us next summer!
I wonder if there is a stat somewhere about the correlation between global warming and the spike of electricity used to cool homes as compared to years gone by.

[billythekid]

I may have an answer. They recently replaced all of the meters in our town, apparently the older style monitors don't operate as "efficently" as the new ones. Ours did the EXACT same thing and it was becaused they replaced the power box. Many small towns had "commercialized" (rigged) boxes and didn't even know it.

2nd possible problem,
Your AC may need cleaning and or gas.

[MrsPinecone]

You may want to have your a/c unit serviced. If the condenser coils are dirty, it causes the a/c to work much harder. You will also want to check the filters on the air handler unit. If they are dirty, it can also increase the work load. Filters should be replaced every 3 months. They are a cheap way to keep your bills lower.

[chriscree]

we had the same thing happen, this months bill was much higher than it should have been...come to find out our "contract" had expired and they raised the rates. No call no email. If I was late on the bill they would have found me. But there isn't a courtsey call when the contract ends.

[audsbodkins]

Thanks! We'll try to get the AC serviced and see if that helps--that could definitely be an issue.

[billig]

Originally Posted by audsbodkins How much more electricity does the AC use since the temperature outside is 10 hotter than last summer? Our electricity usage is TRIPLE what it was last summer. The outside temp is only difference. Since we keep our thermostat at 80... Is this increase consistent with the temperature rise? Even with balanced billing, our bill increased by $80 :frown:

The cost per wattage stayed the same?

[luckimomma]

If you have an electric water heater, you may need to change the elements. Whenever our bill takes a jump, it's the water heater (We have really crummy water). Costs about $40 and a handy DH can do it, with minimial complaining, in about an hour or so. Ours go bad about every 2-3 years.

[rachelanne127]

Here's something I learned (being in GA this knowledge SUCKS, lol)... but your A/C can only cool your house 10 degrees below how the temp outside. So if it's 100 you get 90. This is on typical one unit models from what I understand.

[luckimomma]

Originally Posted by rachelanne127 Here's something I learned (being in GA this knowledge SUCKS, lol)... but your A/C can only cool your house 10 degrees below how the temp outside. So if it's 100 you get 90. This is on typical one unit models from what I understand.

Sounds like you're talking about swamp coolers, not air conditioners. I can promise my house is more than 10 degrees cooler than it is outside- it's been about 90-95 here, my a/c is set at 78 (sometimes 75 if I'm working in the house). If it would only go 10 degrees less than outside, the a/c would run constantly, trying to acheive that temp and my bill would be even higher than it already is! Plus, I would be DYING- hot flashes and FL are NOT pretty