On 29/10/2010 4:20 PM, sf wrote:
>
> Got the PG&E bill today. Electric was $104 and Gas was under $3.
> Huh, not even $3? The water heater and gas stove are used daily. We
> did have a little heat wave, but the furnace was used. I need to call
> them to see if they made a billing mistake, because I will *not*
> appreciate it if they tack what they should have charged onto my next
> bill.
>

The gas portion sounds low. Really low.

> I figure at least a third of that electricity was used by the kitchen
> lights. What I really want to know is this: how do you keep the light
> factor high and your electric bill low for kitchen use? I'm thinking
> I won't use the "pot" lights as much and just use under counter
> lighting to see if I can lower that charge next month.
>
> Unfortunately, I think the biggest electric hog is the TV and that's
> not getting turned off any more than it is already.

Check around the house and see how many things you have that are a
constant draw, like VCR, electric clock(Clock radio),
television,adapters and rechargers. Some things draw power even when
not in use.

My house usually looks dead at night,especially if I am home alone. I
have a light in in the room I am in. I use florescent and compact
florescent lights in most of my fixtures. I leave on one in the kitchen
in the evening, about 18watt draw. I plan laundry for days when I can
line dry.

I am having constant battles with the electrical supplier. We have a
rate for the first 600 KWH (used to be the first 1000 kwh) Then it
jumps. They do a reading once a quarter and on the months in between
the guesstimate. Their guesstimate always seems up over the cut off for
the lower rate and they charge the higher rate. Then when they do the
reading they adjust and you get credited for the extra kwh, but only at
the low rate. I started checking my meter reading and the current
reading, 3 weeks after their guesstimate, was always lower.