How many kWh a month do you use?

[Jeff000]

Been averaging about 1500 kWh's. Seems like a lot considering how many LED lights and other power saving things I have going on.

So what's your averages?

[e46er]

Seems a little on the high side on my opinion if you have low energy equipment
Around here that's about $100 a month
My 120 is about $30 a month and I have MH, couple reeflo pumps nothing that's really efficient

[e46er]

Seems a little on the high side on my opinion if you have low energy equipment
Around here that's about $100 a month
My 120 is about $30 a month and I have MH, couple reeflo pumps nothing that's really efficient

But I guess if you cut out a bunch of power going from MH to LED your heaters will run alot more over winter so energy savings are ?????
Bulb replacement is where big savings are.

[michika]

If you look carefully you might be able to figure out when I turned my tank on. :biggrin:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/47D17064-658F-40F0-A590-7690B48CBECF-11797-000005ED339D9BAD_zps91f34e4e.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/michika/media/47D17064-658F-40F0-A590-7690B48CBECF-11797-000005ED339D9BAD_zps91f34e4e.jpg.html)

[xtreme]

Currently using about 1200 kWh per month, I run a 280g. Switched to LED at the start of the year and didn't notice any difference in consumption at all. If anything it increaded since the heaters have to run more often now.

[Jeff000]

Seems a little on the high side on my opinion if you have low energy equipment
Around here that's about $100 a month
My 120 is about $30 a month and I have MH, couple reeflo pumps nothing that's really efficient

I'm talking whole house.

I pay 8cents per kWh.
But then all the bs transmission fees and other garbage, so my bill is about 200 a month.
I do run central air.

All my tank equipment is low power usage, and LED. Although it is still like 350w of LED.


If you look carefully you might be able to figure out when I turned my tank on. :biggrin:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/47D17064-658F-40F0-A590-7690B48CBECF-11797-000005ED339D9BAD_zps91f34e4e.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/michika/media/47D17064-658F-40F0-A590-7690B48CBECF-11797-000005ED339D9BAD_zps91f34e4e.jpg.html)

Enmax eh?

lol, damn. Your tank is a bit larger than mine. I guess my tank to use about 400kWh a month.
I should test it one of these days, I do have the equipment to test it pretty easy.

You can kind of see where I turned my tank on (January I think). Although I had a sizable tank running before too.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7377/9225837525_c302310551_z.jpg
I cut it off, buy my average a day is $6.63

[mike31154]

No smart meters in Edmonton yet? Thankfully hydro rates in BC are among the lowest in the country, but I'm sure they will creep up as time passes. Anyhow, BC Hydro bills on a two month schedule & my whole house consumption varies from about 660 to 1100 or so kW.h per billing period, depending on time of year, winter months typically higher. Divide those numbers in half & you have 330 - 550 kW.h monthly consumption. This has kept me below the Step 2 billing threshold, where the price jumps from 6.9 cents to 10.34 cents/kW.h.

Here's a screenshot showing daily consumption for my current billing period. Note the blips July 2 & 3, this is where I had to pull out my portable 8300 Btu/h air conditioner to keep at least one room in the house comfortable. Specs say it uses 1050 watts for cooling. My central AC is ancient & has been non-functional since I bought the place. I had planned on replacing it, but rethinking since it's more efficient to cool the rooms you use most rather than the whole residence.

https://6t23xq.bay.livefilestore.com/y2pmhZF3PVO7bzFVGArR9Y_C-htMLG49j133xjdz_c3JF41kqx0RyWUx_V_7l7sErN3AmGFrg_q Qpq6b9mOxStrcHPlGFzFDndNbrYZI2H6W9I/hydro.jpg?psid=1
Screenshot of hourly consumption. Again you can see where I used the portable AC (from 2-7 pm), right around the 1500 watt mark (up from 500) which confirms the specs of the unit. Not sure about the rise at 9-10 AM & subsequent drop back down. Most likely the coffee machine & computer, me enjoying a java & surfing the net. The second bank of LEDs on the fish tank kicks in around that time as well.
https://6t23xq.bay.livefilestore.com/y2p1NBPOTQ8sdfjxzOEwwiFLEOozfA82BEGqVpHTuR_9n44j3g Lw931q2o94uawEZL2In9Fd4EKQTTH1CFanEtQL-KO_ukW5l5vMlDC_7qZu8I/hourly.jpg?psid=1
I'm still considering some solar panels for the future, for a little independence from the big players & as a backup for power outages. Upfront cost for panels, controllers & batteries is still a bit hard to take at the moment though & payback is quite long with the current low electricity rates. I already have a small wind generator, but haven't set it up. I will probably get another portable AC unit or a couple of small window ACs for the bedrooms..... and get a contractor to decomission the worn out central AC taking up space in my carport before recycling the remaining parts. Unlikely there's much freon left in it, but it's best to be sure & get it done right.

[michika]

I think this is a hugely underdiscussed component to this hobby; carrying costs and efficiency planning. I hope more and more people chime in and really get this thread going.

[fishoholic]

EEEEEEEEK! Ok I know I use a lot of power (3 large tanks, 3 smaller ones, 2 dehumidifiers etc.) but looking at the actual consumption is scary! Last month my bill reading (April 23-May21) I used 2315 kWh :eek: the really scary part is my A/C units having been running for most of June so my next bill will be even more :cry: My cost (with enmax locked in at 8 cents) is around $300/month. FYI MTS with large tanks sucks! :twised:

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii53/Laurie_Morin/Snapbucket/5A2A60DA_zps49ad0d69.jpg (http://s261.photobucket.com/user/Laurie_Morin/media/Snapbucket/5A2A60DA_zps49ad0d69.jpg.html)

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii53/Laurie_Morin/Snapbucket/01023812_zpsafd2a1db.jpg (http://s261.photobucket.com/user/Laurie_Morin/media/Snapbucket/01023812_zpsafd2a1db.jpg.html)

[mike31154]

I think this is a hugely underdiscussed component to this hobby; carrying costs and efficiency planning. I hope more and more people chime in and really get this thread going.

Definitely a good idea to take stock once in a while. Typically the items that are power hogs will be anything with a compressor or large heating element. So.... AC, fridge, freezer, chiller, electric baseboard heater, electric water heater, electric clothes dryer, electric range/stove, fish tank heaters and I guess big honkin' MH bulbs if you run a few 400 watters.

For most of us, the fish tank is probably not that big a deal when compared to appliances such as stoves, dryers & central AC. I have a clothesline & rarely use my dryer. Even in the winter I often use an indoor retractable clothes line in my south facing add-on sunroom to dry laundry.

What many folks forget about are the phantom loads that may not use big power, but because they're on or plugged in 24/7/365, will bump your kWh number up significantly over time. For example, my Shaw digital cable box uses 40 watts as long as it's plugged in. It doesn't even have to be turned on & does not have a PVR. I think it goes up to 43 watts when it's on & the PVR models use even more power. So this thing is using 40 watts just to keep the programming menu instant on when I turn on the TV to watch. I've started unplugging the power bar to my home theatre set up every night when I shut things down. It means a minor inconvenience in having to wait for the programming menu to reload, but I can live with that when it saves a few kWhs. I also turn off the power bar to my internet router when I'm done surfing. I think there are now power bars available that sense usage & automatically shut things down for you. Might be a worthwhile investment. My next TV will have a built in tuner & I will ditch the Shaw cable TV & be content with the two over the air digital stations. This will not only save power, but a good chunk on the monthly Shaw bill.

[michika]

Wow!

In the last little while have any of you encorporated any equipment or changes that had huge impacts, hopefully for the better, on your bills?

I also do some of the little stuff that you mentioned Mike; line or hang drying clothes, etc. It actually really helps out.

[mike31154]

I don't have any conventional light bulbs & very few CFLs or fluorescents left in the house, mostly LEDs now. Also have ceiling fans in each bedroom & dining room now. This cuts down on the need for AC in those rooms.