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.

[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]

Originally Posted by 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

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.

Originally Posted by michika

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

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.

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.


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.

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.