Electric bill thread

Pre-cooling

Any questions or comments are welcome.

In 2017 my electric bills in the summer were approaching $300 so I decided to get involved. My monthly balanced payment slightly over $200. I was keeping the house at 78.

My house: 2500 sq ft, flat roof (foam), built in 1978, single pane windows, 2x6 wall construction, south facing, diving pool.5 ton and 1.5 ton units. New 5 ton AC unit (15 seer) about 3 years ago.

I heard about pre-cooling on KTAR radio Sat morning. Gave it a try and over the last 2 years fine tuned. Here is what I have done:

Super saver Max plan APS

The goal is to shift use from 3-8pm to other times. You are heavily penalized for using electricity 3-8pm m-f.

Thermostat setting m-f

6am-12n 72

12 noon - 3pm 68

3pm to 8pm 85

8pm - 6am 72

Sat & Sun 24 hrs 72

If the temp rises above 115 I drop 2 more degrees in the AM

The AC does not come on at all 3-8 It rises to max of 80 between 7-8pm on days of 110. On days around 100 it only rises to 76.

No oven or stove use 3-8. Boil water OK or microwave for a short period.

Water heater off 3-8pm.(Timer)

No use of dryer, dishwasher, blow dryer, welder, etc.

We cook meals in the morning and re-heat dinner or BBQ. Or go out.

Pool pump runs 12-4 am. Pool guys recommend 8 hours/day, I have run mine 4 hrs/day for 2 years now with no issues. I occasionally run an extra 4 hours on The weekend.

If we are hot on the weekends, we turn it down.

We are much more comfortable now than pre-cooling days.

My demand charge for 3-8pm has never risen above 1.

In 2018 rates went up.There was an interim rate Jan-March that really screwed things up.

2019 Jan - June has been a much cooler year than the past

As of July 1 2019 my balanced payment plan is $142 and I have a surplus of $590 in my account.

Future plans include non grid solar for pool pump, solar hot water, new windows.










Here are my bills:

2017 2018 2019

Jan 145 149 99

Feb 122 140 85

Mar 105 121 82

April 135 121 82

May 142 152 96

June 211 162 112

July 270 187 133

Aug 265 194

Sep 242 176

Oct 242 141

Nov 134 112

Dec 142 113


Total 2155 1768 689

 

I spent a summer in Phoenix... holey smokes!!

 

move North, its the desert yo

 

NorCal here. Completely opposite. No AC. Summer months $150-$200. 3600 sq. ft. 2 large fish tanks and a wife that loves laundry. Winter time we usually see a couple $500 months until we get used to the cold. Large livingroom with open beam ceiling. As I like to say, this house has 2 temperatures, too hot and too cold.

 

2 dogs. The house only gets above 78 for an hour or so. Cools back down to 72 by 845. You must adjust our lifestyle by not using electricity 3-8 pm M-F.


Edit: I recalculated my billl based on the cost of your electric rates in CA. My bill last month would be $364 instead of $138 All calculated at the off-peak rates. I love AZ.

 

This is an AZ thread, not sure if it applies in any other state. I thought California was a different country?
Here is a link with info where I started.
https://proskillservices.com/hvac-plumbing-heating-blog/2018/03/01/save-money-with-super-cooling/

 

I'm about to buy a house in Glendale. It is east/west facing 2 story with single pane windows and a single ac on the roof. I will try this method when we get settled in.

 

North Carolina. 1000 sq ft house. Small af. Ac set in 65 7 days a week 24 hours a day in the summer time. Usually 95-100 a day. Bill has never been more than 135$

 

My house was built in 1960. Didn’t have a lot of insulation and the windows were original. I cut my bills in half, almost 2/3rds in some cases, putting new windows in and adding a bunch of insulation in the attic. It was a bitch. I didn’t even have access to my attic. I put in dormer doors on the one side and pulled out the built in dressers on the other. Then used the stairwell passage to get up into the ridge. I had to crawl into spaces people weren’t meant to be. Still lots of parts I could add more too. But it’s all been a big help in cutting my energy bills down. Also put in a new high efficiency furnace and central air in the house.

 

We are on SRP in Queen Creek and we do the no use plan but it’s only from 3-6p M-F. AC is set to 78 until 2, then drops to 72 to supercool until 3. At 3 it raises to 85. House usually heats to about 81/82 by 6 but drops down quickly. House built in 2015, 1 5ton unit with split damper between floors. We don’t do the balanced billing tho. Summer is usually <$225.

I’m no HVAC guy, but last summer the capacitor failed on the unit and the repair guy said that the super cooling usage puts a nasty burden on the unit. I ignored his guidance to change to the standard billing but he may have a point.

 

Ahh, a dream. Don’t tease me like that!

 

I'm with you on that. I can't tolerate the heat. I'm sweating in anything above 70. I work hard outside and I don't go back outside once I get home until the sun goes down and only if it cools down.

 

Gilbert AZ. 1640sq ft built in 1994. Standard insulation, windows. 3 ton Trane split system new in 2015. Maintain 82 degrees year round (make good use of ceiling fans year round). Heated spa, no pool. SRP balanced payment plan is $105 per month.

 

Sign a long term (2 year) contract I pay 7 cents per Kw.

 

Do you have black out curtains? I suggest shutting all the blinds and putting up some black out curtains. You don't realize how much the sun beating in through the blinds raises the room temp

 

Daaaaaamnnn thats cold. 68° really? Yeah I figured the HVAC guy was just regurgitating nonsense and I paid him no mind. I wish there was a way to get cool water from the tap for the next few months. Need a whole-house jockey box lol. Luke-warm teeth brushing water sucks.

 

I installed a solar ground mount (10000 KW) when I built my home about 6 years ago... Live in So. Ca. and Edison was offering a high rebate if you increased your title 24 minimum requirements. I was quoted by 2 solar companies 53-55K to build it... Did it myself not as hard as you may think. Anyway, my out of pocket cost before any federal or Edison rebate was $22,100.00 That was for a 40 panel system. Keep in mind my home is 100% electric, no gas and I am on my own water well... Home is 2500 feet of living single story with a 3 zone HVAC system. I have never had an electric bill, last month June I produced 1756 kw and used 1256 so a net gain banked for winter months when I produce less. After rebates of $13500.00 from Edison and 30% federal tax credit I was out of pocket about 2 grand, made it up in 6 months of use....Only problem is I am still in So. Ca. land of high taxes and ahole politicans....

 

How do your bills compare to mine? I feel like I have kicked APS's a$$.