How much electricity do you use? Poll

[C_Dave45]

My last horrendous Enmax bill has me scratching my head. I'm thinking there must be something wrong with my home's electrical use.

My last billing cycle was 34 days, going over Christmas and New Years, and I used a whopping 2941 kWh's. 86.5/day.

For the previous cycle, it was 28 days at a total of 535 kWh's or 19.1/day. But over the last year I seem to average around 1300 kWh's per month. That seems awfully high.

So what is everyone else using?
My stats: 3600 sq ft of living space.
two fridges, one freezer, one stove, one hot tub (240v), three TV's, two computers, other than that, just normal lighting. All incandescent bulbs, mind you. (I'll have to change that)
Always someone home, so always something on.

[codetrap]

We float right around 750kWh/month throughout the year. This christmas was a bit more because I was heating the garage electrically while working on my bike.. That just chews through the power like crazy.

[Cos]

.

[Super_Geo]

890sqft 2bdrm condo.
204kWh last cycle, 6kWh/d.

All lights are CFLs. I do most of my cooking on the BBQ, even in winter.

/bachelorpad

[GTi-RS]

Are you using older Plasma TVs?

[lilmira]

From 400-500kWh, 2100sqft single house, two people and two beasts.

[Tik-Tok]

-1030 Sq.ft bungelow (w/basement) heated to 23*C
-800 Sq.ft Garage heated to 8*C
-iguana cage, frog terrarium, fish tanks, all heated 24/7

Summer = 500-700 kWh
Winter = 1000-1200 kWh

edit: I mention the heat settings, because both furnaces are old, shitty ones with very inefficient fans.

[ZMan2k2]

1100 sq. ft bungalow, mix of CCFL and incandecent lights. I use the HT system for everything TV related, running an old LCD as well.

We average between 500-600 in the winter and 350-400 in the summer. When it's cold out, like -25, we go to around 700.

[C_Dave45]

Originally posted by Cos

my guess is that you were estimated, estimated, estimated and then read. So they were guessing 500, 500, 500 and you were actually using 800 800 800 so the differences add up. You can see on your bill when you were last read. Mine was November 28th and then December 28th but you may have had a gap. Either that or you were doing dished 3 times a day, cooking in the oven every day, and washing a shit ton of clothes and using your hot tub a lot. Over x-mas anything is possible.
Nope, every one actual reading. Dec/Jan I ran our Christmas lights, (around 7 hrs a night) but I just didn't think they would add up that much more kWh's. Also we were in BC from Dec 23 to 28th. So no interior lights except the Xmas lights for that period.


Originally posted by GTi-RS
Are you using older Plasma TVs?
No. One 55" DLP, two other small CRT's.



Originally posted by ZMan2k2

We average between 500-600 in the winter and 350-400 in the summer. When it's cold out, like -25, we go to around 700. 300 more kWh's just for your furnace fan?? Or do you use electric heat somewhere?

[superflychief]

3400sq ft living space, lots of pot lights, usual appliances, 1 plasma and 1 LED TV, AC unit in the summer and we average about 1000kWh's all year long. 2900 sounds insane. Probably not the case but are you sure your neighbors haven't tapped into your power?

[Cos]

.

[C_Dave45]

Originally posted by superflychief
3400sq ft living space, lots of pot lights, usual appliances, 1 plasma and 1 LED TV, AC unit in the summer and we average about 1000kWh's all year long. 2900 sounds insane. Probably not the case but are you sure your neighbors haven't tapped into your power?
I wondered the same, but no. Only one house close to us and no extension cords lol.
I'm thinking of getting one of those home energy monitors and see if I can track down the culprit. I can't see my Xmas lights tripling my normal monthly usage. (Which that alone seems high)

[Cos]

.

[C_Dave45]

Originally posted by Cos
Assuming you have 4.8w LED bulbs on all the time you would have to have strung 674 of them. That works out to between 6 and 34 strings of lights depending how many of bulbs per string you have.

Now if you have a timer double that number for the same usage. I highly doubt you have 674 lights let alone 1300 on at night only.

Hmm...never actually counted. Here's my setup:


http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o312/CalgaryDave/IMG_5188.jpg

[Tomaz]

Just over 2500KWH last month.

3100sqft home, 60x40 shop, 15x20 studio, 40x16 apartment.

Heat lamps for the barn cats are on 24/7 for the duration of winter. Flood lights on all 3 buildings (total of 5, 3 are 24/7).

All incandescent bulbs (just switched the floods to LED). 2 fridges, 2 stoves, 3 TV's, 3 computers, and one freezer.

We just switched electricity providers so we will be paying a lot less soon.

[89coupe]

Dec.19th to Jan.22nd 1430kwh. 3000sq/ft of living space. We hosted a lot of parties over the holidays as well. I have no idea if this is high or low for monthly consumption.

[Supa Dexta]

I bought a kill-a-watt last year to get an idea what power I was using in my camper trailer.. Its kind of neat to get an actual count on things, rather than going by what the sticker says on something.

http://www.p3international.com/products/images/main_p4400.jpg

[C_Dave45]

Originally posted by Tomaz
Just over 2500KWH last month.

3100sqft home, 60x40 shop, 15x20 studio, 40x16 apartment.

Heat lamps for the barn cats are on 24/7 for the duration of winter. Flood lights on all 3 buildings (total of 5, 3 are 24/7).

All incandescent bulbs (just switched the floods to LED). 2 fridges, 2 stoves, 3 TV's, 3 computers, and one freezer.

We just switched electricity providers so we will be paying a lot less soon.

Now there's a little closer to my consumption. Still 400 kWh less than mine and you seem to have more running, other than my hot tub.



Originally posted by 89coupe
Dec.19th to Jan.22nd 1430kwh. 3000sq/ft of living space. We hosted a lot of parties over the holidays as well. I have no idea if this is high or low for monthly consumption.
My sister has a typical Shane Home and she has the house lit up like an airport and her consumption is around 1200 over the holidays.


Originally posted by Supa Dexta
I bought a kill-a-watt last year to get an idea what power I was using in my camper trailer.. Its kind of neat to get an actual count on things, rather than going by what the sticker says on something.

http://www.p3international.com/products/images/main_p4400.jpg

I am looking at this unit: http://www.powermeterstore.com/p7774/ted_5000.php

http://www.powermeterstore.com/crm_uploads/ted-5000-home-electricity-monitor_1-500x370.jpg




A place in Calgary carries them. It monitors the entire house at the panel, but it's $240.

[Mibz]

What the eff.

Oct - 1467
Nov - 1361
Dec - 1621
Jan - 1865

2300 sq/ft

There's no way my two computers idling all the time do that much. We turn off our lights. We don't use space heaters. Our heat should be gas. Well fuck, I'm glad this thread came along. Now I have to hunt down what's causing it.

[Supa Dexta]

:bigpimp:

Mine was like 20 bux off ebay or something. ha.. But its kind of a 'use it once and then throw it in the drawer' kind of device.

[supe]

Originally posted by Supa Dexta
:bigpimp:

Mine was like 20 bux off ebay or something. ha.. But its kind of a 'use it once and then throw it in the drawer' kind of device.

Is it for sale then?

[Supa Dexta]

Nah I never sell anything.. I just keep buying more drawers. :rofl:

[supe]

Damn hoarders... jk

[JRSC00LUDE]

Originally posted by C_Dave45


Hmm...never actually counted. Here's my setup:


http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o312/CalgaryDave/IMG_5188.jpg

As soon as I read about your lights I envisioned the meter spinning like mad at Clark Griswald's when he lit them all up! :rofl:

[ZMan2k2]

Originally posted by C_Dave45

Nope, every one actual reading. Dec/Jan I ran our Christmas lights, (around 7 hrs a night) but I just didn't think they would add up that much more kWh's. Also we were in BC from Dec 23 to 28th. So no interior lights except the Xmas lights for that period.


No. One 55" DLP, two other small CRT's.


300 more kWh's just for your furnace fan?? Or do you use electric heat somewhere?
Yeah, I guess I was a bit misleading. No, we plug in both trucks when it's that cold. My truck is plugged in for 4 hrs, and the wifes' for around 6. That's what adds up to the extra usage. We're around 5-600 in the winter months, because of all the extra time the lights are on, and plugging in adds around 1-150kWh.

[ExtremeSi]

Anyone signed up to a contract for a fixed charge? We've been going month-to-month and it seems like the rate keeps going up and up. Kinda wishing we signed into a contract. Any downside?

[Tomaz]

Originally posted by C_Dave45


Now there's a little closer to my consumption. Still 400 kWh less than mine and you seem to have more running, other than my hot tub.



Not as much as one would think. I spend about 6-8 hours/week at home (other than sleeping of course).

The heat lamps and the flood lights kill us. The fan motors for the furnace are a bastard too.

[project240]

We used just over 900kw from Dec.6- Jan.5.

We have about 3000 Leds that were on for about 6hrs per night for the entire month.

Normal usage is about 750/month for 2500sq ft bungalow, tons of pot lights, 2 tvs, 2 computers, etc.

[CanmoreOrLess]

Freezers eat a ton of electricity as do fridges, many people have one or two in the garage. My parents had three freezers (all half empty) and a fridge in the garage... they could have bought a place in Hawaii for the decades this BS went on.

In Japan they unplug anything not being used, as electricity is very expensive. They do this in the workplace as well, I spent an hour (in two minute spans) each month waiting around for the photocopier to fire up, I assume the other dozen employees did the same, 12 hours a month in lost production to save a few hundred yen.

I think I need to take a look at how much AC two computers, four external hard drives and a printer use when on 18 hours a day. Maybe ramp up my sleep mode settings.

[HuMz]

Originally posted by ExtremeSi
Anyone signed up to a contract for a fixed charge? We've been going month-to-month and it seems like the rate keeps going up and up. Kinda wishing we signed into a contract. Any downside?

I just switched to fix last week after being on floating for almost 2 years, at 0.08 cents for 5 years I can't see it not paying off. Especially when the rate is double that right now.

[89coupe]

Originally posted by ExtremeSi
Anyone signed up to a contract for a fixed charge? We've been going month-to-month and it seems like the rate keeps going up and up. Kinda wishing we signed into a contract. Any downside?

Enmax allows you to change every 30 days

[ercchry]

im locked at $0.08, we used 849kWh from dec15-jan16th

[Kloubek]

You need to stop those constant lights on your plants! ;)

Seriously... I have my most recent bill in front of me, and we used 694 from November 28th to Dec 27th. 2 people in the house, 1850 sq feet, and CFLs in almost all fixtures. We keep 2 computers running at all times, so that might factor in slightly.

Now, this is in the winter months when it is dark almost the entire time we're home... I'm sure the summer months are far less - unless we use the AC.

[Hallowed_point]

144 kWh Dec.07-Jan.08

1 bedroom apartment :poosie:

[ExtraSlow]

Usually use around 700 kWh per month, December was around 1100 because of the Christmas lights.

[B20EF]

560kwh
2000sq/ft 4 level spilt

3000kwh for a 3500sq/ft home seems insane. I couldnt imagine a bill that large every month.

*edit* Nevermind I see now that for 86 days

[C_Dave45]

Originally posted by B20EF
560kwh
2000sq/ft 4 level spilt

3000kwh for a 3500sq/ft home seems insane. I couldnt imagine a bill that large every month.

*edit* Nevermind I see now that for 86 days
Huh??? Read the op again. Slowly. It wasn't for 86 days. But it's not a typical month.

[Sugarphreak]

...

[Z_Fan]

Originally posted by 89coupe
Dec.19th to Jan.22nd 1430kwh. 3000sq/ft of living space. We hosted a lot of parties over the holidays as well. I have no idea if this is high or low for monthly consumption.

Mine is twice that. No parties. But lots of stupid things are in use that shouldn't be.

I guess that's why you've got so much fucking money for lunch.

[AE92_TreunoSC]

1400sq/ft and 450, I'm cheap with my furnace though, no kids yet so why bother.

[Mibz]

Our power meter shows a digital reading of current usage so I didn't have to buy anything.

The two computers use about 450 kWh a month at idle thanks to no standby. Mine uses a shitton more while gaming so that explains a decent chunk of it. I've turned on the power saving options, hopefully that helps.

The furnace fan was running 24/7 and using ~150 a month so that's on Auto now.

I'm still using nearly double what comparable houses are, even accounting for that. I guess we'll see what my next couple bills look like.

[codetrap]

Originally posted by Mibz
Our power meter shows a digital reading of current usage so I didn't have to buy anything.

The two computers use about 450 kWh a month at idle thanks to no standby. Mine uses a shitton more while gaming so that explains a decent chunk of it. I've turned on the power saving options, hopefully that helps.

The furnace fan was running 24/7 and using ~150 a month so that's on Auto now.

I'm still using nearly double what comparable houses are, even accounting for that. I guess we'll see what my next couple bills look like.

That's crazy power usage man. Either you typo'd it, or something is seriously wrong with your PC. I got one of those killawatts from CanTire, and my HTPC server PC costs me like $2/month to run, and it's running with little to no power management active 24x7.

If you want, you're welcome to borrow it and go through your appliances. I found the fridge was my big killer. The old builder fridge was eating a good third of my power every month. If I recall, the old one was chewing like 200kWh/month, and the new one uses like 400kWh/year. (numbers are probably off, but it was a ludicrous difference).

[Mibz]

It's a brand new house, brand new appliances, I'd be hard pressed to believe that the appliances are the cause. But if my next couple months of bills are still ridiculous I'll definitely take you up on that, thanks.

I wouldn't doubt the gaming computer is a big cause. It was running SLI for a while, just switched to a newer single card, 3 HDDs, 6 fans, overclocked. It's, I dunno, 3 years old? And let's be honest, I spend most of my day on it :P

My HTPC is in standby 90% of the day and it's a little micro-ATX thing with a passive video card, I really don't expect it to use a whole lot of power.

I've since enabled standby on both the gaming and wife's PCs. It's so weird walking into a silent and relatively cool study. We'll see what my February usage is like and go from there.

When we were testing everything and had all computers in standby, furnace fan off and only one light on our usage was consistent with ~360 kWh a month so I don't think our meter is fucked. I have a feeling we just underestimated what kind of usage these things have.

[codetrap]

Easy to check them.. takes one day of logging with the killawatt to know for sure.

Here is the link to the one I bought.. works like a charm for $30.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443279714&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672077&bmUID=1329488865659

[Mibz]

Oh shit, it does logging? I thought it was just "plug it in, check usage, try something else". Fuck it, I'll just buy a couple of my own, haha.

[ga16i]

Originally posted by Mibz
Oh shit, it does logging? I thought it was just "plug it in, check usage, try something else". Fuck it, I'll just buy a couple of my own, haha.

Well... it won't do true "logging" where it tells you a timestamp and usage at time x, but it will keep a running tally so you can reset to zero and check back in a day to see how much it used in a day.

I have this one too and pretty interesting.

[B20EF]

Originally posted by C_Dave45

Huh??? Read the op again. Slowly. It wasn't for 86 days. But it's not a typical month.


Originally posted by C_Dave45

Huh??? Read the op again. Slowly. It wasn't for 86 days. But it's not a typical month.

Lol. I think I have it now. Thats a ton of electricity used. An average of 1300kwh/month doesnt seem too bad though.

[ZenOps]

600 KWH in the winter months, about 450KWH in the summer months.

One computer on 24/7 as well as camera and security system.

I specifically spent more on a 86% efficient power supply (Seasonic) for the computer (most generics were around 65%) At the time, it was basically the most efficient.

Lights are mostly Rona 50 watt halogens which put out 15% more light than regular bulbs. Fridge has two one watt LED's, which is just enough to see by. CFL's used outdoors, just incase they ever burst and spread that toxic mercury.

Older refridgerators are sometimes better than newer ones. The old ones usually have gigantic copper cooling fins and may still use Freon gas (which is 30% more efficient than the new environmentally friendly gas) Truth be known, all new refridgerators are *pure crap* compared to two decades ago.

[bignerd]

On another forum I read, other people have been complaining about their last bill being much much higher than normal, so not just you. I haven't received mine yet so can't say.

[core_upt]

Someone at my work was just complaining about her's spiking too (from $58 to &85) in a condo.

I average about 380kWh (low around 280, high around 460) per month in an oldish house; 1,800sqft, one TV, one mac mini running constantly, some new lightbulbs, no outdoor lighting, two fridges, no freezer, old/crappy dryer. No big stereo, but we do have a few guitar amps and PA running a few times a month.

I think the biggest change was the rates from EnMax spiked in December, so I switched from floating that was around .10 a kWh to fixed at .08. The floating is around .13 now....

[Cos]

.

[baygirl]

My usage actually went down from 904kWh to 871kWh(my place was about 1100sq. ft with everything running all day and night........)

After reading this thread I decided to compare my electric bill to my parents in Newfoundland. My cost was $194 for 871kWh while my parents bill was ~$130 for 1080kWh....

[Zorac]

hot tubs are a killer if your keeping that thing heated the whole time. i'd be looking into that.

[C_Dave45]

Originally posted by Zorac
hot tubs are a killer if your keeping that thing heated the whole time. i'd be looking into that.

Well, a hot tub is either heated the whole time, or you don't bother having one. My average monthly usage is 1200-1300 and, while on the high side, I can handle that.
The 2900 for one month in December/January is what killed me and obviously the hot tub had nothing to do with that.

[C_Dave45]

Originally posted by Cos

You guys are talking cost. Dave was talking about actual usage was up a lot. Everyone's costs is up like crazy this month since pool prices hit 13-15c

Haha...I was wondering who might understand that. Most people, it went "whoosh" right over their heads.

[raceman6135]

Just bumping this thread to let everyone know that Canadian Tire will have the Blue Planet Energy Meter (52-8851) on sale for $18.69, which is 25% off the regular price of $26.29.

Sale begins March 22.

Product link (http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp;jsessionid=PqlbmBJv8L4z1mHhQTJVyvR4L4CnT9G2MyQjn4pR61TDhZr0Dfn5!-2095946523?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443279714&bmUID=1332356539667)

[Transp0rt3r]

Originally posted by baygirl
My usage actually went down from 904kWh to 871kWh(my place was about 1100sq. ft with everything running all day and night........)

After reading this thread I decided to compare my electric bill to my parents in Newfoundland. My cost was $194 for 871kWh while my parents bill was ~$130 for 1080kWh....

Most of the Eastern Canada electricity comes from nuclear, natural gas and hydro energy Source (http://media.cns-snc.ca/ontarioelectricity/ontarioelectricity.html)

Alberta's electricity comes from mostly burning coal and some natural gas Source (http://media.cns-snc.ca/albertaelectricty/albertaelectricity.html) Hence, jacked through the roof prices per KWh

[e36bmw///]

nm

[Supa Dexta]

Originally posted by Transp0rt3r


Most of the Eastern Canada electricity comes from nuclear, natural gas and hydro energy Source (http://media.cns-snc.ca/ontarioelectricity/ontarioelectricity.html)

Alberta's electricity comes from mostly burning coal and some natural gas Source (http://media.cns-snc.ca/albertaelectricty/albertaelectricity.html) Hence, jacked through the roof prices per KWh

Ontario isnt eastern canada. ha..

Coal on the east coast from what Ive seen.

[Stealth22]

SD: Thanks for the Kill a Watt idea, I just ordered one off eBay! :thumbsup:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/P3-P4460-Kill-Watt-EZ-Power-Monitor-/350484932190?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item519a87a65e

No one get suckered into this though:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350446447809&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

I've read some reviews that say its susceptible to weather damage.

The older model is much cheaper...

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/NIB-BLUELINE-INNOVATIONS-POWERCOST-MONITOR-ELEC-METER-SMART-GREEN-ENERGY-SAVER-/350549427983?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item519e5fc70f#rpdId

But still, I'd rather get that $200 one (TED, is it?) that will be attached to my circuit panels INSIDE the house, and give detailed information via web server.

[Maxt]

Some of you guys are using huge amounts of power
We are averaging 550-700 kwhr's per month. 2 adults , 2 small kids, 1100 sqft home. TV is on all day almost, heated workshop, waterwell pump and heat tapes for sewer system. Other usage , Tig welder(60 amps), Eddy current brake in dyno(30 amps), 2 hp motors on metal working machinery..
I have switched all our indoor lighting to CFL, all outdoor is LED.

[Mibz]

I should be getting my latest bill any day now so we can see if my changes made a difference.