Summer bills... Power consumption

[crewdawg1981]

Okay... its getting worse. My most recent power bill (ready for it?) = $677. The month before it was $590. This is, of course, after all the fees for taxes, environmental, and nuclear cost reimb that total ~$100-$125/mo for the last two bills at least.

I wanted to make sure the tank isnt the source for this and came up with~$85-100 per month. Thats about what I expected and the reason i'm so concerned is because last august, the previous owners' bill was only $470 and they had a child and a stay at home mom... and kept the AC at 64 at night. We have it at 78 all the time and we're both gone during the day.

Here's what I'm running:

- Return Pump - Reeflow Marlin (~300w - valved back)
- Skimmer - SRO XP3000int (35w)
- Flow - MP40w ES (x4) (Variable, but top end at 28w each).
- Lighting - 250w MHs (x4 - 3 display (lumatek) and one fuge (PFO)). These are on 6 hours per day at this point.
- Cal Reactor - MRC CR2 with a Panworld NP10x (11w)
- Chiller - 1/3 Current USA - (800w). Runs for 10 minutes twice an hour for about 5 hours in the evening after the lights start coming on.

Are my calculations for the tank contributions to the bill way off? I looked at the bill and $/Kwh seems to be around $0.1309/kwh.

 

[paulduong]

mine was $648 last month , just got a new high efficiency ac unit couple days ago .

 

[redstang]

Run to the library and pick up a kill-a-watt to measure your devices in the house. There could be any number of devices placing a draw for no benefit. You could also get more accurate numbers for what your aquarium stuff is pulling. HD sells them cheap too.

 

[darcurr]

Crewdawg1981;678450 wrote: after all the fees for taxes, environmental, and nuclear cost reimb that total ~$100-$125/mo for the last two bills at least.

Who do you have!?!

 

[crewdawg1981]

Yeah, I'm definitely going to go look at a kill o watt meter at HD.

I've replaced the filter on the air handler (two months ago). Its a HE unit. I also had Itsamyheff come out and service the AC. He said everything looked good after we cleaned it and added some freon.

The windows are all double paned, and the doors stay closed. I'll def have to look into the water heater...

But for all of that tank equipment... $100 doesnt sound too light does it? That was what I figured the contribution of that equipment would be.

Edit:

darcurr;678462 wrote: Who do you have!?!

Ga Power

 

[acroholic]

Imagine what mine are with three reefs, and two Discus tanks, one 180 gallons and one 265 gallons, that I keep at 85 degrees. One reason I switched to LEDS and bought the BRS water saver upgrade for my RODI.

 

[crewdawg1981]

Acroholic;678490 wrote: Imagine what mine are with three reefs, and two Discus tanks, one 180 gallons and one 265 gallons, that I keep at 85 degrees. One reason I switched to LEDS and bought the BRS water saver upgrade for my RODI.

I dont even want to think about what your bills are like Dave... mine make me nauseous as it is. But I'm starting to think my crazy bill is NOT related to the tank. I'm hoping i'm right, because I dont know where I could cut back power on the tank (chiller... but then the lights cant come on... or I guess I could run a few fans).

Edit:

Angcot70;678485 wrote: mine have doubled the last two month .. and with dh outta work with injury they havent been paid .... have to keep a roof over our head first ...
only thing i am running on my tank is pump and lights and i have cut back on how long the lights are on....
the power bills are really getting ridiculous!

btw for those who dont know dh is darling husband ....lol

That is rough! I was out of work for a time in 2008. Its tough out there... good luck to you and your family!

 

[crew]

lots of devices use power, even while they are off. The only way to actually kill the power is to unplug them.

Power supplies, transformers and inefficient electronic devices, VCRs, DVD players and most audio systems, TVs, home cinema suites and set-top boxes, Microwave ovens, Cordless phones and answering machines, Security systems and fire alarms, Computers, digital monitors and printers, Door bells, Timers, motion sensors, light sensors and automatic sprinklers, Programmable thermostats, Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
Devices with "Instant on" functions, with remote control receivers, or waiting for the user to interact, Devices with a stand-by light or clock, Power adapters (sometimes referred to as wall warts), whether they are powering a device or not, Most home video game consoles

they all use power 24/7

 

[jj ocean]

<span style="font-size: 13px"><span style="font-family: Calibri">I’ve been puzzled as well … my last 2 power bills were both in the $800’s (3 AC units @ 76 degrees). I haven’t looked yet (should have), but my memory serves as that being about $300 more a month than last summer. The only real change is that I added a ½ hp tradewinds chiller this summer. Via my Apex, I know I run ~12.7 amps consistently on my system during the day and ~15.7 amps when the chiller is on. My chiller runs on average about 6h40m in a 24h cycle. Doesn’t seem like 6h40m a day at 3 amps = $300 a month. My wife is convinced it is my aquariums (~600g in total).</span></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri"><span style="font-size: 13px"> </span></span>
<span style="font-size: 13px"><span style="font-family: Calibri">Did GA Power raise their rates significantly over last year?</span></span>

 

[crewdawg1981]

GA Power definitely raises its rates during the summer. I was aware of that and expecting bad bills, but the problem for me comes when comparing the use to the previous owner, and seeing a $200 difference against me. I'm aware of the tank using ~$100, but refuse to believe that we're even coming close in usage as they were considering the schedule they had their AC on, the added window AC unit they had in the master, a hot tub that was on 24/7 year round (we've turned it off and drained it since April) and the fact that there was always someone home.

 

[fsu230263]

its alot of things you can do to save alittle , unplug things that not being used such as lamps , wash & dry cloths at night , the dryer sucks up ALOT of juice, leave your AC unit set at a temp that you can be comfortable to your liking , GA.Power also has a team to help you cut cost on your bill bye coming to your house to look over ways you can save , the time of day plays a big part in your bill also

 

[crewdawg1981]

fsu230263;678510 wrote: its alot of things you can do to save alittle , unplug things that not being used such as lamps , wash & dry cloths at night , the dryer sucks up ALOT of juice, leave your AC unit set at a temp that you can be comfortable to your liking , GA.Power also has a team to help you cut cost on your bill bye coming to your house to look over ways you can save , the time of day plays a big part in your bill also

Yeah, we're making an appt to have one of their consultants come out and look over everything. We were already doing a couple of things:

- Wash and dry clothes after sundown
- Wash dishes when we're asleep
- Leaving the AC at 78 all day instead of up and down.
- Paying more attention to lights on/off etc.

There's only two of us... and for the most part, when we're home there are a few lamps and a TV on. (you can see where my frustration is coming from).

 

[fsu230263]

dont get mad at your power company , get mad at THE EPA. , oil company & the gov. they play the biggest part in power company prices , some power company is truely for its custormer & not the government

 

[codsack]

Check out this link to see what your tank is costing you

 

[grouper]

JJ Ocean;678502 wrote: <span style="font-size: 13px"><span style="font-family: Calibri">I’ve been puzzled as well … my last 2 power bills were both in the $800’s (3 AC units @ 76 degrees). I haven’t looked yet (should have), but my memory serves as that being about $300 more a month than last summer. The only real change is that I added a ½ hp tradewinds chiller this summer. Via my Apex, I know I run ~12.7 amps consistently on my system during the day and ~15.7 amps when the chiller is on. My chiller runs on average about 6h40m in a 24h cycle. Doesn’t seem like 6h40m a day at 3 amps = $300 a month. My wife is convinced it is my aquariums (~600g in total).</span></span>

<span style="font-size: 13px"><span style="font-family: Calibri">Did GA Power raise their rates significantly over last year?</span></span>

Wow, that's high. I have 3 AC unit too!! My bill was $420 last month. Square footage is pretty decent too!! $800 wow!!!

 

[qasimja]

My bill last month was 525 exactly I gave up trying to lower it lol

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

 

[hud3339]

Wow I feel sorry for everyone, my last one was only $182 that's with my 58g and 12g. There are 3 people living here, one is home all the time.

Edit: Wow I feel sorry for everyone, my last one was only $182 that's with my 58g and 12g. There are 3 people living here, one is home all the time.

 

[mcphock]

My power bill is down nearly 1/4 this summer. I did only two things different:

Put up tinted window film. It's nearly invisible from the outside, so it doesnt look tacky.

Switched from metal halides to AI units. Not only has my lighting power consumption dropped in half, but the AC doesnt kick on as much. My two tanks used to use 780W per lighting hour between them. Now they use 340!

 

[dvara78]

My bill last month was $242 and this month is $260. My home is approx 2,700sqft and I have two units - one for upstairs and one for downstairs.

My thermostats are programmed like this:

Lower Level
6:30am - 9:am - 75F
9:am - 4:30pm - 83F (after everyone has left the house)
4:30pm - 10:30pm - 75F
10:30pm - 6:30am 83F

weekends - it remains on 75F from 7am - 10:30pm and 83F all other times

Upper Level
9pm - 8am - 72F
8am - 9pm - 83F

I also keep the vents in the rooms I don't use often (guest rooms) etc closed. this has helped be keep my bill down below $300 during the hotter months. Oh and I swtiched to a tankless water heater so I only use gas and power when we need hot water.

I have a 34G solana with LED's

hope this helps!

 

[mcphock]

Ironically, the downside of LEDs is that the heat from my metal halides helped support the tank heater in the winter. I would assume I'm going to need a larger, most robust heater. Those **** things are power sinks.