high electric bills (gas heat)

Posted by on January 23, 2009, 9:22 pm

I am just curious for opinions. Looking at my electric bill, it has a
peak in the summer months (presumably because of A/C), but an even
bigger peak in the winter and that's with gas heat. Any idea why that
would be? It's about 200kWh higher in January than it was in August,
which baffles me. I can't think of anything I'm doing now that I
wasn't doing a year ago, but it's about 100kWh higher than January
2008. Thanks!

Posted by hallerb@aol.com on January 23, 2009, 9:42 pm

On Jan 23, 9:22=EF=BF=BDpm, mattmeitz...@gmail.com wrote:

> I am just curious for opinions. =EF=BF=BDLooking at my electric bill, it =

has a

> peak in the summer months (presumably because of A/C), but an even
> bigger peak in the winter and that's with gas heat. =EF=BF=BDAny idea why=

that

> would be? =EF=BF=BDIt's about 200kWh higher in January than it was in Aug=

ust,

> which baffles me. =EF=BF=BDI can't think of anything I'm doing now that I
> wasn't doing a year ago, but it's about 100kWh higher than January
> 2008. Thanks!

Posted by hr(bob) hofmann@att.net on January 23, 2009, 10:19 pm

> On Jan 23, 9:22 pm, mattmeitz...@gmail.com wrote:

> > I am just curious for opinions. Looking at my electric bill, it has a
> > peak in the summer months (presumably because of A/C), but an even
> > bigger peak in the winter and that's with gas heat. Any idea why that
> > would be? It's about 200kWh higher in January than it was in August,
> > which baffles me. I can't think of anything I'm doing now that I
> > wasn't doing a year ago, but it's about 100kWh higher than January
> > 2008. Thanks!

> its been much colder here in pennsylvania.... burr.
> so the furnace runs more using electric, were home more, after being
> out all day in snow and cold who wants to go places?
> all of this uses more electric.
> Plus if you bought a new TV like a LCD flat panel they use far more
> power

If you have a lot of incandescent lights, that hurts a lot more in the
winter. Instead of 4 hours of lights, from 7 - 11 pm, you have at
least an hour in the morning and 5 - 11 pm at night, that is more than
a 50% increase in lighting useage. Also, furnace blower motors, or
hot water circulating motors are running a lot in mid-winter compared
to not at all in the summer. Also, if you use electricity for
cooking, most folks cook less in the summer due to the heat.

Bob Hofmann.

Posted by Ed Pawlowski on January 23, 2009, 10:27 pm

On Jan 23, 9:22?pm, mattmeitz...@gmail.com wrote:

> I am just curious for opinions. ?Looking at my electric bill, it has a
> peak in the summer months (presumably because of A/C), but an even
> bigger peak in the winter and that's with gas heat. ?Any idea why that
> would be? ?It's about 200kWh higher in January than it was in August,
> which baffles me. ?I can't think of anything I'm doing now that I
> wasn't doing a year ago, but it's about 100kWh higher than January
> 2008. Thanks!

its been much colder here in pennsylvania.... burr.

so the furnace runs more using electric, were home more, after being
out all day in snow and cold who wants to go places?

all of this uses more electric.

Plus if you bought a new TV like a LCD flat panel they use far more
power

*************************************************

My January bill is always the highest aside from the AC months. Shorter
days mean longer nights and more lights burning. Each month will drop
slightly until it gets hot and we start using cooling. August is usually
the highest use of the year.

If the OP used a space heater or had a huge Christmas light display, that
would suck some juice too. Check the dryer vent too.

Posted by Tony Hwang on January 23, 2009, 10:33 pm

hallerb@aol.com wrote:

> On Jan 23, 9:22�pm, mattmeitz...@gmail.com wrote:

>> I am just curious for opinions. �Looking at my electric bill, it has a
>> peak in the summer months (presumably because of A/C), but an even
>> bigger peak in the winter and that's with gas heat. �Any idea why that
>> would be? �It's about 200kWh higher in January than it was in August,
>> which baffles me. �I can't think of anything I'm doing now that I
>> wasn't doing a year ago, but it's about 100kWh higher than January
>> 2008. Thanks!

>
> its been much colder here in pennsylvania.... burr.
>
> so the furnace runs more using electric, were home more, after being
> out all day in snow and cold who wants to go places?
>
> all of this uses more electric.
>
> Plus if you bought a new TV like a LCD flat panel they use far more
> power

Hi,
LCD panel uses LESS power. I think you meant Plasma panel?

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