Outrageous electricity bills - Calgary

[Jay180reef]

What's the best way to minimize the Enmax bill? Do they offer any better rates?
Utilities this month were $400.

Running:
3x250W MH
Ice Cap 660 T5
Reeflo Barracuda Pump
Magnum 8 powerhead
Octo Skimmer
2 500W heaters

[my2rotties]

Mine was over $400 I posted about it down the line a ways... pretty awful isn't it.

[Jay180reef]

Ahh, I found your thread, sorry to start a new one...I was just a bit shocked and my first instinct was to create a new thread.

[Whatigot]

how big are your houses?

[digital-audiophile]

Is that inclusive of water/sewage and garbage?

[phreezee]

I don't understand the need for 2 500W heaters... my large system is at a steady 80 degrees with 4 pumps (2 return and 2 for the octo skimmer) and 4 powerheads in the water. Doesn't really fluctuate with lights on or off either. Maybe consider taking them out and see if it makes a difference in temp and cost.

Just so we can compare, my bill was $369 with Enmax:
2 250W MH
6x39W T5
OceanRunner 6500
QuietOne 6000
LifeTech 5500 x2
3 Koralia 4
1 Vortech MP40W

[Jay180reef]

The electricity portion of the bill is only $175/month, so it sounds like I'm not doing too bad. I'm only running the MH lights from 2pm - 7pm, when I should be running a 10hr cycle for max coral growth.

I'll turn off a heater, but my system is made to run in the summer without a chiller. I've got a fan-driven open hood design that doesn't hold any heat from the lights, plus the overflows drop the water to the sumps in the garage, which is quite cool.

The return pump pushes the water back up 15ft, drawing lots of power. I'm going to buy a Kill A Watt, anyone seen them in stores? I'll buy it online if not.

[24storm]

I am going to get one of these ones tonight so i can do some checking on my stuff. Also Enmax has a program called easymax that lets you lock in your rate a 8 cents per killowatt for 5 years if i had done this before Jan i would have saved almost 100.00 on my Jan bill.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444327 9714&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672790&bmUID=1235511750423&deptid=1408474396672676&ctgrid=1408474396672687&subctgrid=1408474396672790

[my2rotties]

My house is over 3000sf. I have a well/septic tank so my bill is strictly for power alone. There are two of us and we do not use the entire house and have lights on all the time. I do have to turn stuff off after hubby all the time though.

I have the following

3x 250 halides
6x 65w compact florescent
2 700 Korilla power heads
1 Korilla 500 power head
Aqua medic skimmer t5000
A really crappy Blue line 100 pump 250w(month old and shot)replacing with better since its consumption is 390w don't buy on they suck

500w heater (hardly runs only at night when halides are off)
250w heater (water storage only runs to keep water at temperature)
36" Tek lights (over fuge)
36w turbo twist UV
Deltech phosban reactor

[Jay180reef]

Okay I'm really just whining...upon closer examination, my household used 1400kWh at 8 cents for a total of $113. The Reef Central calculator told me I'm using $70 worth of electricity for the reef. I can live with that.

The criminal part of the bill is the Easymax fees:
$8 Administration charge
$19 distribution charge
$19 Trans access Defer Acct Rider ??????
$22 Local access fees

plus 3 other small fees

[Delphinus]

Yup, I hear you. My utilities are in that ballpark too, but I have 4 reef tanks and a freshwater tank. I'm cutting back though, I'm hoping there will be a slight reduction, but it's as you say, the electrical portion is really just a small component. All the other fees are a complete joke. I like how they are individual line items as if they are optional. "Oh I don't want that, so I'll opt out of the trans access defer rider for this month." :lol:

[my2rotties]

In my thread someone mentioned that that my rate could be estimated. Well that was the case fr January and I am paying what I used in reality total for two months. The estimate was much lower I guess then usual. The gas and power people come give my pups cookies when they come and when I think abut it, I did not see them in January.

My distribution charge is $40.70 and transmission charge $31.13 for that billing month. Geez I thought Enmax was criminal when I lived in Calgary. I'm going to call and whine to Epcor anyways, it won't hurt...

[my2rotties]

Can I borrow it:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:

Someone mentioned the one at Costco is really god so maybe I'll grab one when I go back in a week or two. I am thinking my crappy Blue line is a power sucker. Time to get rid of it...

I am going to get one of these ones tonight so i can do some checking on my stuff. Also Enmax has a program called easymax that lets you lock in your rate a 8 cents per killowatt for 5 years if i had done this before Jan i would have saved almost 100.00 on my Jan bill.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444327 9714&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672790&bmUID=1235511750423&deptid=1408474396672676&ctgrid=1408474396672687&subctgrid=1408474396672790

[yeeg]

my Enmax bill in December was $615 and the kicker is that the house was empty for 3 weeks and the temps turned down....

[i have crabs]

i used 1558kwh in january i switched to enmax this morning for the 8cents and it should save me $30-40 per month
fyi computers use alot of power also so start turning them off when your not using them for a while if possible
also pluging in your car overnight costs about 50cents so get a timer if you plug it in often

[i have crabs]

my Enmax bill in December was $615 and the kicker is that the house was empty for 3 weeks and the temps turned down....

gas is a lot cheaper than electricity, leave the heat up so you dont spend the money on heating up your tank

[Jay180reef]

i used 1558kwh in january i switched to enmax this morning for the 8cents and it should save me $30-40 per month
fyi computers use alot of power also so start turning them off when your not using them for a while if possible
also pluging in your car overnight costs about 50cents so get a timer if you plug it in often

That's a good point, I remember when I built my computer I put in a 500W ultra quiet power source...definitely need to do some investigating with the Kill A Watt.

[Jay180reef]

Yup, I hear you. My utilities are in that ballpark too, but I have 4 reef tanks and a freshwater tank. I'm cutting back though, I'm hoping there will be a slight reduction, but it's as you say, the electrical portion is really just a small component. All the other fees are a complete joke. I like how they are individual line items as if they are optional. "Oh I don't want that, so I'll opt out of the trans access defer rider for this month." :lol:

SO frustrating, on the whole utilities bill I counted 18 random charges.

[Jay180reef]

The funniest part of it all is my water bill was only $11 (without random fees)

[JDigital]

my Enmax bill in December was $615 and the kicker is that the house was empty for 3 weeks and the temps turned down....

That's almost a $1/gallon... :lol:

[my2rotties]

So... are you still laying on the floor, or are you up on the ceiling... When you call they will give you the "jedi mind trick" and confuse you into thinking the bill is right.


my Enmax bill in December was $615 and the kicker is that the house was empty for 3 weeks and the temps turned down....

[phreezee]

Little known fact, you can borrow Kill-a-watt's from your public library!

[Jay180reef]

Really! I'll have to 'check' that out

[BC564]

My last utilities bill was over $500 ....2100 square foot home......Power was $210...which is pretty normal........but my gas bill was $296....which is about double what it usually is....Now this covered from Dec 24th to Jan 24th...and I recall it being damn cold then.....and I know the little half likes to have the GAS fireplace on......but I was still shocked when I opened the bill......

[levi1803]

My place is 2800 sq feet on four floors, two furnaces and two water heaters. I'm pretty much screwed no matter what I do :(

[my2rotties]

Yup I have two furnaces and two hot water tanks as well. I never have the furnace on in my place to my hubby's dismay. I put on a sweater and slippers if it's cold in the house. One furnace runs the main floor and one the upstairs. If we are not on one of the floors the furnace is off. Sometimes I will be in bed and hear the furnace kick on downstairs and I won't sleep unless I go shut it off...

The fish tank must run at all times, but I am already looking at how long the lights run for and how long they should run for. I like the halides on all day but that won't be happening anymore.:wink:

My place is 2800 sq feet on four floors, two furnaces and two water heaters. I'm pretty much screwed no matter what I do :(

[es355lucille]

Does anyone know if Epcor has a plan the same as Enmax? Right now I am paying ~11.65 cents per kWh with Epcor. I will have to check out Enmax as well..... thats a good savings! Thanks 24storm! Brad & Sharon.


I am going to get one of these ones tonight so i can do some checking on my stuff. Also Enmax has a program called easymax that lets you lock in your rate a 8 cents per killowatt for 5 years if i had done this before Jan i would have saved almost 100.00 on my Jan bill.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444327 9714&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672790&bmUID=1235511750423&deptid=1408474396672676&ctgrid=1408474396672687&subctgrid=1408474396672790

[yeeg]

gas is a lot cheaper than electricity, leave the heat up so you dont spend the money on heating up your tankI'll have to look into it...my electrical is 7 cents per kwh...the temps in my tank wont vary much as the volume of water is significant...

[globaldesigns]

tell me about it, last months bill was $700

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Yup I have two furnaces and two hot water tanks as well. I never have the furnace on in my place to my hubby's dismay. I put on a sweater and slippers if it's cold in the house. One furnace runs the main floor and one the upstairs. If we are not on one of the floors the furnace is off. Sometimes I will be in bed and hear the furnace kick on downstairs and I won't sleep unless I go shut it off...

The fish tank must run at all times, but I am already looking at how long the lights run for and how long they should run for. I like the halides on all day but that won't be happening anymore.:wink:

You would actually get much better coral growth by NOT having the halides run all day. There seems to still be a big debate about how long is best but it has been determined that its certainly NOT 8-12 hours a day like many people do but much less. I think one of the last few TOTM on RC was running his 5 hours a day. I am at 6 hours a day now.

[Jay180reef]

wow, $700 is insane

[my2rotties]

I need to do some homework about this or I will have a conniption when the next bill arrives...

You would actually get much better coral growth by NOT having the halides run all day. There seems to still be a big debate about how long is best but it has been determined that its certainly NOT 8-12 hours a day like many people do but much less. I think one of the last few TOTM on RC was running his 5 hours a day. I am at 6 hours a day now.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

I need to do some homework about this or I will have a conniption when the next bill arrives...

Search RC for the threads. Basically there is only so much light corals can use in a day. The rest of the time, its wasted light and in some cases, not even good for the corals. Many people are seeing nicer color with a shorter photoperiod.

[my2rotties]

Thanks Justin it is much appreciated.

Search RC for the threads. Basically there is only so much light corals can use in a day. The rest of the time, its wasted light and in some cases, not even good for the corals. Many people are seeing nicer color with a shorter photoperiod.

[fishoholic]

Sometimes I will be in bed and hear the furnace kick on downstairs and I won't sleep unless I go shut it off...



OMG I'm not the only one! I'm exactly the same way. Everyone I know tells me I'm crazy for turning the furnace down so low (15) at night. All I know is that I can't sleep with the noise it makes.

[spreerider]

you can calculate each devices cost and your entire tank cost by taking the watts of each device and dividing by 1000 to get Kw then multiplying by how many hours they are on per day, then multiply by the number of days in the month then by the KWH (KiloWatt / Hour) rate
EG
250W MH
250 / 1000 = .25KW X 11 = 2.75 X 30 = 82.5KWH X (rate) $.069 = $5.69 per month roughly

[Albertan22]

Does anyone know if Epcor has a plan the same as Enmax? Right now I am paying ~11.65 cents per kWh with Epcor. I will have to check out Enmax as well..... thats a good savings! Thanks 24storm! Brad & Sharon.

Be careful with the locked in rate plans. I know a few people who have signed up for them and their bills actually went up significantly. They tend to charge less for electricity, but get you on all the extra fees (which aren't locked in). If you look back through this thread you'll see that a lot of people on those plans are paying more in administration fees than electricity, which isn't the case with my Epcor bill :wink:

[banditpowdercoat]

gas is a lot cheaper than electricity, leave the heat up so you dont spend the money on heating up your tank


Not from what I have experienced. My last place, a three floor Duplex, was solely elec heat. My elec bill was less than my buds gas bill for his place.


When talking Large ovens, Like my Powdercoat ovens, Elec is cheap. Just takes a while to heat a 7'x6'x5' Oven. 18KW of elec heat.

My gas bill for just my trailer is about the same as the Hydro bill for the house AND the shop/oven. But then, I was stupid a while back and locked my gas in BAD DAN, BAD....

[i have crabs]

Not from what I have experienced. My last place, a three floor Duplex, was solely elec heat. My elec bill was less than my buds gas bill for his place.


When talking Large ovens, Like my Powdercoat ovens, Elec is cheap. Just takes a while to heat a 7'x6'x5' Oven. 18KW of elec heat.

My gas bill for just my trailer is about the same as the Hydro bill for the house AND the shop/oven. But then, I was stupid a while back and locked my gas in BAD DAN, BAD....

i found my heaters ran about half the time and when you have about 1000w of heaters the savings add up, also remember half the gas bill is fixed rates and fee's the actuall part that goes up with usage didnt go up that much for me.

as far as enmax they dont have plans any only use the monthly wich over the last 2 years has hovered between 9-12cents enmax has a locked in rate right now for 8cents, its a 5 year term but you can change it or get out of it anytime with no penalty, i switched from epcor to enmax online the other day and now have to wait 5-8weeks to start saving money.

[24storm]

i found my heaters ran about half the time and when you have about 1000w of heaters the savings add up, also remember half the gas bill is fixed rates and fee's the actuall part that goes up with usage didnt go up that much for me.

as far as enmax they dont have plans any only use the monthly wich over the last 2 years has hovered between 9-12cents enmax has a locked in rate right now for 8cents, its a 5 year term but you can change it or get out of it anytime with no penalty, i switched from epcor to enmax online the other day and now have to wait 5-8weeks to start saving money.

I called enmax yesterday and locked in on the easymax plan and they told me it goes into effect the next day. You may want to give a call and check they actually answer phones there to. I think i was on hold for all of 1 minute.

Keith

[Slick Fork]

I have enmax and have often suspected that where I save on electricity they gouge like crazy on the "extra's" However, I don't have any solid proof to back that up. Just a general dissatisfaction with utility companies I think.

As for the Halide's, I have my lighting schedule so that the 2 t-5's click on at 10:00 and go off at 22:30, the first of 2 250w halides clicks on at 3 and off at 8, second one runs from 4 till 9. This gives me 4 hours of FULL daylight and 6 hours of lessened daylight. Everything seems happy and growing ok.

How many have done simple things like styrofoam insulation all around the sump? I keep meaning to do it, even have the styrofoam... just one of those things that seems to get trumped by something else!

[Tarolisol]

Well probably not relavent but still, I have found just pay your bill or move, it sucks but thats the truth. I am planning to leave from Calgary in the next few years, and Ive lived here for 25 years, our mayors a moron, crime is stupid, compared to the old days(im not that old) and enmax steals our money, theres not to much of an up side to live here. And there will be people who try to support our city but bring it on, im very involved and know alot about this city. My only true love for the city now is the Flames.

[Buccaneer]

I never try to make anyone do what they dont want to ... but answer me this

what other major city would you go to in Canada that you think would be safer - BC and Saskatchewan have some horrific crime rates, Ontario and Quebec are pretty good but then there is the speak french thing mandate in one and of course provincial sales tax in both provinces, so I guess you do pay for a larger police presence. If I ever start to feel that insecure here in Calgary I will just get some personal protection :wink:
I agree that crime in Calgary is at a all time high but steps are being taken to bring it under control ( seizure of proceeds of crime like cars, houses etc and lately talk of mandatory 1st degree murder charges for gang killings )

not have a mayor you dont like at some point ? - he is worse than some but better than others. Personally I would like to see Ric McIver run but he does not stand a chance unless Bronco does not against him ... Bronco has a huge war chest of funds

high utility costs - off topic a bit but have friends from Winnipeg and some of them were paying twice our property taxes - not sure their utility costs but I am sure that even if they were hypothetically lower the property tax plus provincial taxes would eat up the difference and then some

You could say we are worse than some and better than others to a varying degree depending on what stat you want to look at

You could say screw it all like some are rumbling in the streets and have a independent Alberta ... probably no income/property taxes at all :wink: and Alberta could afford a well funded Police force with no transfer payments to make

And I agree with you on one point ... the Flames are Awesome ! :cool:

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

How many have done simple things like styrofoam insulation all around the sump? I keep meaning to do it, even have the styrofoam... just one of those things that seems to get trumped by something else!

Was just talking about this with another member tonight. Neither of us do this, but both our tanks stay reasonably warm with much smaller heaters. I just plugged in a 200w the other day, but had no heater on the 210g reef all winter. The corals & fish adapted to a slightly lower temp.

She uses a 300w heater with no problems.

I think just cutting up thick styro sheets & duct taping them to the sump would cut down on the heat loss tremendously.

Anthony

[i have crabs]

I called enmax yesterday and locked in on the easymax plan and they told me it goes into effect the next day. You may want to give a call and check they actually answer phones there to. I think i was on hold for all of 1 minute.

Keith
where you already with enmax? cause i switched from epcor and it definatly said it would be 5-8 weeks total

as far as calgary goes, i do hate the snow and winter and thats my main reason to want out of here but on all other subjects i dont think it will be any better anywhere else and your dreaming if you think it will be

[Doug]

I never try to make anyone do what they dont want to ... but answer me this

what other major city would you go to in Canada that you think would be safer - BC and Saskatchewan have some horrific crime rates, Ontario and Quebec are pretty good but then there is the speak french thing mandate in one and of course provincial sales tax in both provinces, so I guess you do pay for a larger police presence. If I ever start to feel that insecure here in Calgary I will just get some personal protection :wink:
I agree that crime in Calgary is at a all time high but steps are being taken to bring it under control ( seizure of proceeds of crime like cars, houses etc and lately talk of mandatory 1st degree murder charges for gang killings )

not have a mayor you dont like at some point ? - he is worse than some but better than others. Personally I would like to see Ric McIver run but he does not stand a chance unless Bronco does not against him ... Bronco has a huge war chest of funds

high utility costs - off topic a bit but have friends from Winnipeg and some of them were paying twice our property taxes - not sure their utility costs but I am sure that even if they were hypothetically lower the property tax plus provincial taxes would eat up the difference and then some

You could say we are worse than some and better than others to a varying degree depending on what stat you want to look at

You could say screw it all like some are rumbling in the streets and have a independent Alberta ... probably no income/property taxes at all :wink: and Alberta could afford a well funded Police force with no transfer payments to make

And I agree with you on one point ... the Flames are Awesome ! :cool:


Hmm. Guess we dont rate in there anywhere. :lol: And we have the cheapest hydro rates of anyplace.

Anyways, lets not get to political in this thread. Cant change your city goverment on a reefing board forum. :lol:

[Buccaneer]

Hmm. Guess we dont rate in there anywhere. :lol: And we have the cheapest hydro rates of anyplace.

Anyways, lets not get to political in this thread. Cant change your city goverment on a reefing board forum. :lol:

I did not forget ya unless you want to add Manitoba onto the crime stats :wink: and the high property taxes ( I think I mentioned that about Winnipeg already :razz: )

[phreezee]

I did not forget ya unless you want to add Manitoba onto the crime stats :wink: and the high property taxes ( I think I mentioned that about Winnipeg already :razz: )


Quoted for truth. $5000/year was what I was paying before I moved. Highest car theft rates too.

[spreerider]

Victoria is a great city, low crime rate and not too expensive compared to other large cities, Its almost warm all year and only snows for 3 or 4 days every year. People keep flowers in their gardens all winter :O

[Buccaneer]

Quoted for truth. $5000/year was what I was paying before I moved. Highest car theft rates too.

That is double my property taxes ... at that point what is a few cents more per kwh in the big scheme of things :razz::wink: