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too expensive for retirees

mslovjoy
mslovjoy Member Posts: 2

ggest andything wrong...all electric home...monthly bill up to 400. What should we do?

Greening

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 24,735

    What can be done depends a lot on just where you are, and what you are using electric power for.

    In some parts of the country (US), electric power is the most expensive energy option available, so changing to a different energy source, such as gas or oil heat, or even changing a ducted air conditioning system to a heat pump may be cost effective.

    But… need to know a lot more about what you are using electricity for, and where you are located.

    I might note that in colder climates, the most effective use of scarce cash is improving insulation and weather tightness of the home, particularly in post World War II properties.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    Alan (California Radiant) Forbes
  • SlamDunk
    SlamDunk Member Posts: 1,664

    $400 sounds pretty decent if you have airconditioning, an electric stove, and electric water heater plus lights and other appliances.

    Alan (California Radiant) Forbes
  • Hot_water_fan
    Hot_water_fan Member Posts: 2,040

    depend on the home. I’m all electric, run about $100 a month.

  • SlamDunk
    SlamDunk Member Posts: 1,664

    $100/month? Do you have solar or doyou sweat in the summer?

  • Hot_water_fan
    Hot_water_fan Member Posts: 2,040

    Neither, keep it at 70F. A kWh goes for about 14 cents

  • jumper
    jumper Member Posts: 2,385

    Turn electric heat way down and use plug in heaters in each room. Best are oil filled radiators. Many rooms are okay @ 55°. Also replace light bulbs with LED.

    HomerJSmith
  • mslovjoy
    mslovjoy Member Posts: 2

    Thanks for the comments. Live in 4 corners, nm. On Farmington Electric. Is one of the instant heat for wall even adaptable to system. Electric company said whatever I do, don't go to portable plugin heater, more expensive. Do the pipes ever redistribute heat to different areas and some stop? We do not have a working thermostat…it's off or on. It takes at least 3 hours to heat.

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 5,282

    Start with a blower door test. Find and fix ALL the leakage.