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From: s on 1 May 2007 15:23 My electricity consumption for a month is shown as 297KWH(KiloWattHour) which is far too much considering my usage in Tallahassee,FL,U.S. We are governed by the City of Utilities(http:// talgov.com/you/uos.cfm) in our area 1. I have two 75W bulbs which are on about 40hours/week. 2. I have two 60W bulbs which are on about 15hours/week 3. One computer which uses a 90W AC adapter which is on about 40hours/ week 4. One cable modem which has an output rating of 9W which is on about 40hours/week 5. A refrigerator which is on all the time. I calculated the power consumption of all my devices as below 1. 75*40*4(75 watts * 40 hours/week * 4 for 4 weeks per month) = 12,000 = 12KWH for a month 2. 60*15*4(60 watts * 15 hours/week * 4 for 4 weeks per month) = 3600 = 3.6KWH for a month 3. 90*40*4(90 watts * 40 hours/week * 4 for 4 weeks per month) = 32,400 = 3.2KWH for a month 4. 9*40*4(90 watts * 40 hours/week * 4 for 4 weeks per month) = 1440 = 1.44KWH for a month 5. About my refrigerator I don't know its power consumption details but I believe it should not be more than 50KWH(KiloWattHour) per month. My refrigerator is a truly ancient model and when I asked for a replacement with an energy efficient model I was blatantly refused by my landlord. So, according to my estimate my usage should be 12+3.6+3.2+1.44+50 = 72KWH(approx). But, my bill shows my usage to be 297KWH which is more than 4 times of my calculated amount. Do you think my calculation is proper and how much power does the typical refrigerator consume? And is it advisable to turn the refrigerator off at night 8:30pm and restart it at 7am in the morning to reduce power consumption? I don't have any items in the deep freeze. The items in my refrigerator are milk, bread, juices, syrups, milk mix powders and sauces. At night normally the temperature is less so I thought if I turn my refrigerator off it would further reduce my consumption. People who use lot more electricity than me don't have so high bills(and there are 2 people in their household). Evidently, something is wrong with my bill for this month or someone is tampering with my meter and billing me for their usage. There are no other sources which consume electric power in my usage according to my knowledge in my house. I am nearly certain that someone is meddling with my electric meter but unfortunately the Utility office does not want to do anything to help me. For my water usage also it is shown that I have used 2600 gallons in a month or roughly 87 gallons per day. In a family of 2 people water usage is not that high. I use the bathroom about 20 mins in a day and when I come home in the night. I am unclear how I alone am using 87 gallons per day and I knew I have to pay for the water so I was conservative from the day I moved in. I am surprised why my water bill is so high. I believe someone is interfering with my water meter also. I don't cook much at home and don't have a load of dishes to wash. My neighbours where there are two people staying, who cook a lot more than me have less water consumption than me. Obviously, generally in a place where two people are staying water usage should be more than where a single person is staying. But, still my bills are higher. I cannot understand what is going wrong? Thanks a lot.
From: Al Bundy on 1 May 2007 16:20 On May 1, 3:23 pm, s <s...(a)mailinator.com> wrote: > My electricity consumption for a month is shown as > 297KWH(KiloWattHour) which is far too much considering my usage in > Tallahassee,FL,U.S. We are governed by the City of Utilities(http:// > talgov.com/you/uos.cfm) in our area > > 1. I have two 75W bulbs which are on about 40hours/week. > 2. I have two 60W bulbs which are on about 15hours/week > 3. One computer which uses a 90W AC adapter which is on about 40hours/ > week > 4. One cable modem which has an output rating of 9W which is on about > 40hours/week > 5. A refrigerator which is on all the time. > > I calculated the power consumption of all my devices as below > > 1. 75*40*4(75 watts * 40 hours/week * 4 for 4 weeks per month) = > 12,000 = 12KWH for a month > 2. 60*15*4(60 watts * 15 hours/week * 4 for 4 weeks per month) = 3600 > = 3.6KWH for a month > 3. 90*40*4(90 watts * 40 hours/week * 4 for 4 weeks per month) = > 32,400 = 3.2KWH for a month > 4. 9*40*4(90 watts * 40 hours/week * 4 for 4 weeks per month) = 1440 = > 1.44KWH for a month > 5. About my refrigerator I don't know its power consumption details > but I believe it should not be more than 50KWH(KiloWattHour) per > month. My refrigerator is a truly ancient model and when I asked for a > replacement with an energy efficient model I was blatantly refused by > my landlord. > > So, according to my estimate my usage should be 12+3.6+3.2+1.44+50 = > 72KWH(approx). But, my bill shows my usage to be 297KWH which is more > than 4 times of my calculated amount. > > Do you think my calculation is proper and how much power does the > typical refrigerator consume? And is it advisable to turn the > refrigerator off at night 8:30pm and restart it at 7am in the morning > to reduce power consumption? I don't have any items in the deep > freeze. The items in my refrigerator are milk, bread, juices, syrups, > milk mix powders and sauces. At night normally the temperature is less > so I thought if I turn my refrigerator off it would further reduce my > consumption. > > People who use lot more electricity than me don't have so high > bills(and there are 2 people in their household). Evidently, something > is wrong with my bill for this month or someone is tampering with my > meter and billing me for their usage. > There are no other sources which consume electric power in my usage > according to my knowledge in my house. I am nearly certain that > someone is meddling with my electric meter but unfortunately the > Utility office does not want to do anything to help me. > > For my water usage also it is shown that I have used 2600 gallons in a > month or roughly 87 gallons per day. In a family of 2 people water > usage is not that high. I use the bathroom about 20 mins in a day and > when I come home in the night. I am unclear how I alone am using 87 > gallons per day and I knew I have to pay for the water so I was > conservative from the day I moved in. I am surprised why my water bill > is so high. I believe someone is interfering with my water meter also. > I don't cook much at home and don't have a load of dishes to wash. My > neighbours where there are two people staying, who cook a lot more > than me have less water consumption than me. Obviously, generally in a > place where two people are staying water usage should be more than > where a single person is staying. But, still my bills are higher. I > cannot understand what is going wrong? > > Thanks a lot. I didn't check any of your numbers, but the refrigerator seems way off. Your 50KW comes to 69W/ hour and it must be more than that by more then double. However, if your bill is way more than in the past with the same stuff, I question the billing. Perhaps the reading was estimated. Utilities often overestimate. Or maybe they read the meter wrongly. You can check the meter yourself to verify the reading. Another possibility is that they were underestimating it and just read the actual and are catching you up to date. In any case, you have the meter available and can check it right now and each day to verify it. It's rare, but a meter can go wrong too.
From: Seerialmom on 1 May 2007 17:56 On May 1, 1:20 pm, Al Bundy <MSfort...(a)mcpmail.com> wrote: > On May 1, 3:23 pm, s <s...(a)mailinator.com> wrote: > > > > > > > My electricity consumption for a month is shown as > > 297KWH(KiloWattHour) which is far too much considering my usage in > > Tallahassee,FL,U.S. We are governed by the City of Utilities(http:// > > talgov.com/you/uos.cfm) in our area > > > 1. I have two 75W bulbs which are on about 40hours/week. > > 2. I have two 60W bulbs which are on about 15hours/week > > 3. One computer which uses a 90W AC adapter which is on about 40hours/ > > week > > 4. One cable modem which has an output rating of 9W which is on about > > 40hours/week > > 5. A refrigerator which is on all the time. > > > I calculated the power consumption of all my devices as below > > > 1. 75*40*4(75 watts * 40 hours/week * 4 for 4 weeks per month) = > > 12,000 = 12KWH for a month > > 2. 60*15*4(60 watts * 15 hours/week * 4 for 4 weeks per month) = 3600 > > = 3.6KWH for a month > > 3. 90*40*4(90 watts * 40 hours/week * 4 for 4 weeks per month) = > > 32,400 = 3.2KWH for a month > > 4. 9*40*4(90 watts * 40 hours/week * 4 for 4 weeks per month) = 1440 = > > 1.44KWH for a month > > 5. About my refrigerator I don't know its power consumption details > > but I believe it should not be more than 50KWH(KiloWattHour) per > > month. My refrigerator is a truly ancient model and when I asked for a > > replacement with an energy efficient model I was blatantly refused by > > my landlord. > > > So, according to my estimate my usage should be 12+3.6+3.2+1.44+50 = > > 72KWH(approx). But, my bill shows my usage to be 297KWH which is more > > than 4 times of my calculated amount. > > > Do you think my calculation is proper and how much power does the > > typical refrigerator consume? And is it advisable to turn the > > refrigerator off at night 8:30pm and restart it at 7am in the morning > > to reduce power consumption? I don't have any items in the deep > > freeze. The items in my refrigerator are milk, bread, juices, syrups, > > milk mix powders and sauces. At night normally the temperature is less > > so I thought if I turn my refrigerator off it would further reduce my > > consumption. > > > People who use lot more electricity than me don't have so high > > bills(and there are 2 people in their household). Evidently, something > > is wrong with my bill for this month or someone is tampering with my > > meter and billing me for their usage. > > There are no other sources which consume electric power in my usage > > according to my knowledge in my house. I am nearly certain that > > someone is meddling with my electric meter but unfortunately the > > Utility office does not want to do anything to help me. > > > For my water usage also it is shown that I have used 2600 gallons in a > > month or roughly 87 gallons per day. In a family of 2 people water > > usage is not that high. I use the bathroom about 20 mins in a day and > > when I come home in the night. I am unclear how I alone am using 87 > > gallons per day and I knew I have to pay for the water so I was > > conservative from the day I moved in. I am surprised why my water bill > > is so high. I believe someone is interfering with my water meter also. > > I don't cook much at home and don't have a load of dishes to wash. My > > neighbours where there are two people staying, who cook a lot more > > than me have less water consumption than me. Obviously, generally in a > > place where two people are staying water usage should be more than > > where a single person is staying. But, still my bills are higher. I > > cannot understand what is going wrong? > > > Thanks a lot. > > I didn't check any of your numbers, but the refrigerator seems way > off. Your 50KW comes to 69W/ hour and it must be more than that by > more then double. > However, if your bill is way more than in the past with the same > stuff, I question the billing. Perhaps the reading was estimated. > Utilities often overestimate. Or maybe they read the meter wrongly. > You can check the meter yourself to verify the reading. Another > possibility is that they were underestimating it and just read the > actual and are catching you up to date. In any case, you have the > meter available and can check it right now and each day to verify it. > It's rare, but a meter can go wrong too.- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - I can't WAIT for the device our local utility is going to put on the meters; it'll broadcast the readings to some item so the readers no longer have to venture into that jungle I call my backyard. For those with pets they don't have to worry about the reader not shutting the gate. Now if I could figure out a low initial output (financially) solar system I'd be set.
From: Dave on 1 May 2007 18:34 "s" <s(a)mailinator.com> wrote in message news:1178047395.057498.138420(a)q75g2000hsh.googlegroups.com... > My electricity consumption for a month is shown as > 297KWH(KiloWattHour) which is far too much considering my usage in > Tallahassee,FL,U.S. We are governed by the City of Utilities(http:// > talgov.com/you/uos.cfm) in our area > > 1. I have two 75W bulbs which are on about 40hours/week. > 2. I have two 60W bulbs which are on about 15hours/week > 3. One computer which uses a 90W AC adapter which is on about 40hours/ > week > 4. One cable modem which has an output rating of 9W which is on about > 40hours/week > 5. A refrigerator which is on all the time. > > I calculated the power consumption of all my devices as below > > 1. 75*40*4(75 watts * 40 hours/week * 4 for 4 weeks per month) = > 12,000 = 12KWH for a month > 2. 60*15*4(60 watts * 15 hours/week * 4 for 4 weeks per month) = 3600 > = 3.6KWH for a month > 3. 90*40*4(90 watts * 40 hours/week * 4 for 4 weeks per month) = > 32,400 = 3.2KWH for a month > 4. 9*40*4(90 watts * 40 hours/week * 4 for 4 weeks per month) = 1440 = > 1.44KWH for a month > 5. About my refrigerator I don't know its power consumption details > but I believe it should not be more than 50KWH(KiloWattHour) per > month. My refrigerator is a truly ancient model and when I asked for a > replacement with an energy efficient model I was blatantly refused by > my landlord. > > So, according to my estimate my usage should be 12+3.6+3.2+1.44+50 = > 72KWH(approx). But, my bill shows my usage to be 297KWH which is more > than 4 times of my calculated amount. > 50KWH / month would be low energy use for any current model refrigerator. Part of the problem is that you apparently live alone. FOOD in the refrigerator acts as a cold storage device. If you had a newer refrigerator, it would probably be using closer to 100KWH per month, because it's nowhere near "full". But your ancient refrigerator, which is likely less than half full? That appliance alone is more than half your monthly energy use. Probably 175-200KWH FWIW, 297KWH per month is rather low, even for one person. I'm guessing you don't have a lot of electronics toys. Those consume electricity just BEING PLUGGED IN. Your water usage is about right, for one person. We average 12,000 gallons every 3 months in a 2-person household. We each take one short shower a day. 12K gallons per 3 months averages out to about 71 gallons per day, per person. But the local water department estimates that we should use more than we actually do. So our usage is on the "low" side (per person) for our area. 87 gallons per day per person sounds about right. You really don't need to reduce your electricity or water consumption. Both are about where they should be, for one person. However, if you have extra room, you don't necessarily need to get the landlord involved, if you want a more efficient refrigerator. That is, you could buy one yourself, and unplug the ancient one that the landlord provided. It would take a few years to pay for itself, though. -Dave
From: Gary Heston on 1 May 2007 22:11
In article <1178047395.057498.138420(a)q75g2000hsh.googlegroups.com>, s <s(a)mailinator.com> wrote: >My electricity consumption for a month is shown as >297KWH(KiloWattHour) which is far too much considering my usage in >Tallahassee,FL,U.S. We are governed by the City of Utilities(http:// >talgov.com/you/uos.cfm) in our area [ ... ] >So, according to my estimate my usage should be 12+3.6+3.2+1.44+50 = >72KWH(approx). But, my bill shows my usage to be 297KWH which is more >than 4 times of my calculated amount. Are you running an air conditioner/heat pump? Fans? Large TV or stereo? Large screen TVs can pull over 100W when they're off. (Anything that uses a remote control is using power even when off.) > [ ... ] At night normally the temperature is less >so I thought if I turn my refrigerator off it would further reduce my >consumption. [ ... ] Bad idea. >For my water usage also it is shown that I have used 2600 gallons in a >month or roughly 87 gallons per day. In a family of 2 people water >usage is not that high. I use the bathroom about 20 mins in a day and >when I come home in the night. I am unclear how I alone am using 87 >gallons per day and I knew I have to pay for the water so I was >conservative from the day I moved in. I am surprised why my water bill >is so high. [ ... ] Is your water heater electric? How high is it set? And, for a possible cause for both electric and water usage being high, is the safety valve leaking? Check by looking for a valve on top of the heater with a pipe that comes out horizontally, then turns down alongside the heater tank. If you can't see the end of this pipe to check for water dripping from it (should not be any), feel it to see if it's warm. If so, the valve is leaking and needs to be replaced. Gary -- Gary Heston gheston(a)hiwaay.net http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/ Yoko Onos' former driver tried to extort $2M from her, threating to "release embarassing recordings...". What, he has a copy of her album? |