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Americans to be hit with record-high electricity bills this summer (www.independent.co.uk)
submitted 2 months ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] 17 points 2 months ago (5 children)

They are saying our utilities are projected to go up 40% in the next five years. My electric bill is already getting close to $400. I am wondering how I am going to pay when it is close to $600 as money is already tight.

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  • [–] 9 points 2 months ago (2 children)

    400??? Holy fuck. Are you running the AC with the windows open? Or is your house 5000 sq ft? You need an energy consultant more than anything. How much insulation do you have? And no, a paper towel stapled into a wall doesn't count. I'm also taking a wild guess that your windows are single pane from the 60's and don't close all the way?

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  • [–] 6 points 2 months ago (1 child)

    Lol I don't even use it for heat or cooling. 10 people live here and it is a big house with 5 bdrm and 3 bath. We live on an island and have to pay diesel surcharge to maintain a diesel power station in case the hydro power fails. We also have a water pump which probably adds to it.

    My heating fuel has been as high as $700 in one month in winter. A friend pays over a thousand because their house is not insulated properly.

    That is why it is scary when they talk about rates going up. I am already making hard decisions about what to eat. There isn't wiggle room for continuous rate increases. We will obviously find a way, but it sucks for sure.

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  • [–] 4 points 2 months ago

    Not OP.

    That sucks. Especially having to make poor people financial decisions, you often can't afford to make changes that will save you money in the long run. Been there done that.

    Still, there may be some things you can do to save electricity.

    Cheapo line meter. I use one on my well pump. It shows usage over time. You can figure out what's using the most juice. It does 200v as well as 110 and clamps on. Does have to be wired in to for it's power supply and ground.

    Also, Kill-a-Watt clones. $9.99. Shows you how much plug in things use.

    Offhand things that might help:

    • Hot water heater on a timer and turn down the thermostat. There wil be bitching.
    • If you have an electric stove, inductance stoves are supposed to be the most efficent, but you probably can't afford one. Electric kettles for boiling water probably beat using a stove to heat water.
    • Use a kill-a-watt to figure out what is using juice when appliances/TV/PC/etc. is on standbym
    • Check freezer temp, it may be colder than you have to have it, turn up the thermostat.
    • Check anything with a motor that plugs in with the kill-a-watt, like box fans to see if they're pulling too much juice, when the motor bearings get shitty, you'll pull more over coming friction.
    • Use that clamp meter to check things like whole house blower fans, bathroom fans.

    Good luck.

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