Sucking or Conserving

Appreciate those friends and co-workers who can relate to the increase in PG&E prices over the course of the last few months. Last week I wrote, PG&E Thieves: Energy Costs, showcasing my struggles over the last few months with my PG&E bill. I just can’t justify the numbers in my mind. I am guilty of running the gas fireplace during December and January, but I don’t knock it off to “combat the cold, damp weather this winter” as PG&E spokesman, Donald Cutler says in a SF Chronicle article. Instead of heating unnecessary rooms downstairs I made the assumption it would be more cost efficient to heat the living room and kitchen with the fireplace. Unfortunately that decision cost me $67.51 in December and $78.52 in January. Prior to those two month, the gas portion of my bill averaged less than $10/month.

The numbers aren’t justified, as I have been a tight ass when it comes to our electricity consumption over the 7 days and the results haven’t equated to the sort of savings I expected. January and February were the highest energy use months since August, 2016. The 1265 kWh in August was attributed to the air conditioning running on a regular basis. I accept those totals, although still very hard to swallow. The first two months of the year were 1255 kWh and 1228 kWh, which were both an increase of nearly 25% over December and 41% over November!

The aver kWh per day averaged 41.8 kWh from January 13 to February 13. Over the past 7 days we have used 242 kWh or an average of 26.8 kWh/day. A sharp decrease when compared to the last billing cycle. As it stands right now, our energy allowance is 358 kWh/month, which leaves 116 kWh before we see the Tier 1 price increase to Tier 2 and we pay $0.24/kWh, an increase of $0.6/kWh.

“Cutler encouraged customers to go online to take advantage of the tools the utility provider offers to help customers better understand and manage their electricity and gas usage.” Let me say, I have been to the web site more in the last week than in the last 14 years I have lived in NoCal. I have used some of their tools, but many are “common sense” items to help save a certain dollar amount over the course of the year. It’s quite possible I have “vampire devices” sucking the life out of my electric bill. I invested in a Kill-A-Watt Meter to help provide estimates for electrical items around the house.

One item I can do without, the 1100 watt microwave. What an evil device, not only for electricity but potential health issues. As I have been monitoring my meter each day, I took a picture of my hourly usage at 2.953, while the microwave was on! I turned it off and the meter read a more reasonable 1.505 kWh. It comes as no surprise the microwave increases the daily bill. Thankfully it’s only used in short spurts.

I am still chasing down unknown spikes in the bill from last Friday and Saturday, between 10:00PM and 10:50PM and 1100PM and 1159PM on successive days. What caused these spikes, I still don’t know. My best bet is a pump of some sort clicking on the freezer in the garage or the refrigerator. Without connecting an energy monitor up to the electrical panel, I probably will never know the root cause of these spikes. A Sense Labs, Inc energy meter is on my list to add to the home in order to decrease usage even further. Not sure if that’s even possible but will continue to make the effort.