Reducing My Utilities (and Other) Bills

Fix some weather stripping

The weather stripping on the backdoor seems like it had been through the ringer.

So, I replaced it this weekend. Trying to keep the house energy efficient. 

Aaron 

$2.60 for my SCE bill for January
$16.68 for December

So, Time of Use Metering is paying off.

Aaron

Sunpower officially gave me its one year summary

Basically a a little above the highest end of thier estimates. Which is good.

Starting tomorrow, I think I switch over to time of use metering.

Interesting note. My biggest power use day last year was Thanksgiving (2 electric ovens, lots of friends and family and cooking on the stove kicked the AC on). At least with time of use metering Thanksgiving is a holiday. 

Aaron

 

 

Time of Use Metering

As of today I requested to switch to time of use metering. This will not change my power usage but, should wipe the remainder of my electric bill. Last 12 month period it was ~$650. Time of Use metering in this area charges a premium between noon and 6pm (but also pay for my overproduction at a premium as well).  For the last 12 months for that time period I over produced over 3000 KWH. This should basically give me zero electric bill if my calculations are correct it could give me enough to cover a solar panel lease payment or two a year.

Aaron

 

As the weather gets cooler...

My SCE portion of my electric bill will be around $25 for this month. My natural gas bill is around $20, my average water bill is about $50. No much more I can do on the utilities front.

I have cut most of my expenses with two goals...

1. Don't be penny wise pound foolish (think longer term).
2. Enjoy life and our life style without wasting money.

Next few weeks upgrade and replace 2 older computers. Decide what is next on the medical and detal insurance front that would be best and safest for money in the long and short term.

Next goal over the next 12 to 24 months pay off the one car we have payments on. So, I can start saving for the next car. I hope by then I can get a plug-in hybrid or totally electric car that meets my needs.

In 5 years I will be buying out the solar panels so, that I can free $140 a month for more useful things. 

Maybe the next low hanging fruit although not as bit is looking at out television service (Dish Network) and seeing if they have any deals. Also, to a lesser extent our home and cell service.

 

 

One year with solar

Let me say it has been worth it...

• $140 per month for the solar lease ($1680 per year)
• $660 for the whole year from SCE 
• Total $2340 for the year.

That is still a lot of money. But, less then I paid for just the summer in 2011 (the last summer without solar). Also, to be honest we the house is as a more comfortable temp then it was back then and we still saved money (every month). SCE continues to raise rates but it has not impacted me.

In 2011 my last totally non-solar year I paid $3800 to SCE to get the number that low we kep the house too warm (hot) during the summer. This summer the house was comfortable and the $1500 was kept in our pockets.

In 5 more years I hope to buy the system out and not have to even the $140 per month payment.

Progress...I am not sure how much more I can do on the electricity front. But on the cars the fuel usage is way down thanks to a shorter commute and getting my wife a more efficient car then her old gas sucking beast.

Aaron

 

SCE's estimate tool gave me some interesting results so far a few days into the billing cycle it started of with the rainy days and thought I might get a $120 electric bill now I am down to $40 in all goes well that should fall fast.

No more rain in the forecast for at least the next 10 days.

Aaron

One more person as my office got their PTO... This means that they have gotten caught up. We have more who install was last week so, they have some time to go.

My 18 panels is the smallest system but, because of the roof facing my system is keeping up with the big dogs... 24 and 28 panels.

Not the one with 40 panels on a hillside.

Aaron

Great news, the sun has returned...

Yesterday was the best day yet -5.93 kWh net usage over 28 kWh of production. A few days ago the worst day since we own the system 22 kWh net usage and only 4 kWh of production, we had heavy rain that day.

The forecast is calling for sun for the next 10 days. I want to see my first month of over production.

Aaron

January Bill is in $27

Last year I was at $210 for the same period.

Even with the solar panel lease I am at less the $170 for the month and saved $40 over last year.

If it was not for all the rain in the beginning of the month it would have been less.

4 of the last 6 days I overproduced my more then 3 kWhs.

 

This months billing cycle is starting with rain as well.

I am hoping soon to have my first month of over production.  I am hoping March-June will all be over production.

Aaron