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Ruth
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| Posted: March 13 2008 at 7:35am | IP Logged
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It was $140 less than last February. The last bill was also much lower. I spoke to the electric company last month about ways to conserve energy, and when saw how low the bill was, he said that for the size of this house, that was incredibly low. 
I've kept the thermostat at 64 or 65 during the day and 67 at night. Also, since we still don't have a working dishwasher, we lowered the temperature on the water heater to 110 instead of the 125 required. Our showers are a littler cooler, but also shorter. 
ETA-
We have a gas fireplace, but we returned the tank last year.
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Ruth
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Lisbet
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| Posted: March 13 2008 at 7:40am | IP Logged
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WTG Tucker Bunch! :) I'm to wimpy to lower ours past 70, but we don't have a dishwasher - so I suppose they could cancel one another out...
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
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guitarnan
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| Posted: March 13 2008 at 7:41am | IP Logged
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Wow!!! Congratulations!
We're chilly, here (66 degrees), but our bill isn't easily comparable to last year because our overall rates went up 72% last summer (BGE). Still, we're coming in at less than $300 per month for heat pump heating, and many of my friends are paying close to $500.
Now, if only I could get my son (and my sad self) to take shorter showers!
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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mama251ders
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| Posted: March 13 2008 at 8:12am | IP Logged
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How exciting! We also had fairly low bills this winter due to lowering our thermostat and heating with our wood fireplace. My husband is beyond euphoric! Congratulations!
Blessings,
Betsie
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ladybugs
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| Posted: March 13 2008 at 8:13am | IP Logged
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Love and God Bless,
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LisaR
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| Posted: March 13 2008 at 8:51am | IP Logged
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good for you!!! we survived 64-66 degrees during the day here, and 58 at night. I've turned into an unplugger, and that helped HUGE with our electric bill!!!
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Lisa
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KristinaP
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| Posted: March 13 2008 at 9:30am | IP Logged
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Unplugger? What kinds of things are you unplugging that have made such a big difference? Curious minds want to know.
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LisaR
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| Posted: March 13 2008 at 10:18am | IP Logged
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cell phone chargers, toaster, microwave, TV, coffee maker, lamps, dryer, washer, hmmm just about everything! It only takes a second to plug back in when you need to use it!!
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Lisa
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CAgirl4God
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| Posted: March 13 2008 at 2:27pm | IP Logged
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wow! that is great news!
unplug things huh? how much does it use when it isn't turned on???
and lamp that is plugged in, but not on??
the cell phone charger? dh leaves his plugged in. cause he charges it each night.
the washer and dryer get left plugged in to., It is a pain to reach the plug... and it seems to be in use alot! lol
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LisaR
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| Posted: March 13 2008 at 2:32pm | IP Logged
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we pulled the W/D out a bit to reach the plugs more easily. It really is no big deal once you get in the habit. really less that 5 seconds to plug in/unplug, and we have seen big savings! I'd say at least 30%
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Lisa
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chicken lady
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| Posted: March 13 2008 at 2:44pm | IP Logged
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Lisa, are you saying just by unplugging you saved 30% or combined with the lower temps?
I am freaking out not about the electric, but we have oil heat and the prices of gas are sky rocketing. Do I fill now at 3.66 a gl. or hope and pray that the prices go down before the elections in November????
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LisaR
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| Posted: March 13 2008 at 3:01pm | IP Logged
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I am only talking about electric costs. We have Gas for heat. I had read about unplugging and decided to give it a try. it is kind of addicting. If I were you, you might want to get oil now. I jsut read today that we are now officially in a "depression", and with gas prices promising to push much higher, well, I pretty pessamistic at this time. hey, use your stimulus check, HA HA 
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Lisa
dh Tim '92
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LisaR
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| Posted: March 13 2008 at 3:02pm | IP Logged
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PS, our Gas went down about 40%
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Lisa
dh Tim '92
Joseph 17
Paul 14
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Dominic 8
Maria Gianna 5
Isaac Vincent 9/21/10! and...
many little saints in heaven!
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KristinaP
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| Posted: March 13 2008 at 3:14pm | IP Logged
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LisaR wrote:
| cell phone chargers, toaster, microwave, TV, coffee maker, lamps, dryer, washer, hmmm just about everything! It only takes a second to plug back in when you need to use it!! |
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What?? How come you're not doing laundry 24hrs a day?!
I had no idea unplugging lamps and the TV would really make a difference. That's good to know. We have to keep the toaster unplugged now anyway since it doesn't turn off anymore. 
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LisaR
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| Posted: March 13 2008 at 3:18pm | IP Logged
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I do two loads every morning, try to be done by 9am or so.
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Lisa
dh Tim '92
Joseph 17
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Isaac Vincent 9/21/10! and...
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Michaela
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| Posted: March 13 2008 at 3:21pm | IP Logged
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Congratulations, Ruth! That is a BIG savings.
LisaR wrote:
| I had read about unplugging and decided to give it a try. it is kind of addicting. |
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Same here. I unplug constantly, but DH commented to leave the coffee pot plugged in. It's not fun to reach and twist around, I guess, at 4 a.m.
It does bother me a bit when I look at the digital clock on the stove and microwave. They aren't ON, but are continually sucking electricity because of the clocks. Cell phone cords get unplugged here, but the base to the two cordless house phones are always plugged in, using electricity. TV's also use electricity even when turned off. It was a bit unsettling to find out everything that continually uses electricity even though it's OFF. If plugged in, think of most items in your home as ON.
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stacykay
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Here are some links regarding unplugging electrical items in your home:
Money and Value blog
US Department of Energy
And one last one, that lists $ savings even higher than the others quoted (probably because it is more recent)
Salt River energy information
I looked at our local electrical company's web-site, but it didn't have much, except about dialing down the hot water heater and thermostat.
Now if we can decrease our gas usage! Both in the house and the auto!!!
I am so glad that you brought this up, Ruth! We have a couple things that we do not use on a daily basis, but are plugged in, and I am going to unplug them now! Every penny helps!!!
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: March 13 2008 at 9:08pm | IP Logged
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chicken lady wrote:
| Do I fill now at 3.66 a gl. or hope and pray that the prices go down before the elections in November???? |
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Molly:
We filled now. It was PAINFUL! But, the couple people we talked to said to fill now.
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Ruth
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| Posted: March 14 2008 at 5:35am | IP Logged
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LisaR wrote:
| I've turned into an unplugger, and that helped HUGE with our electric bill!!! |
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You're kidding!!!  I never thought that would make much of a difference. I'm so glad you recommended this.
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Ruth
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CKwasniewski
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| Posted: March 14 2008 at 10:20am | IP Logged
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How can this make a difference to something like a toaster? Isn't it a closed circuit if it is off??
wondering...
ck
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: I just received our electric bill.
