After picking myself off the floor from fainting.... how in the hell does a power bill go to three times as much as the highest bill ever paid in 16 years? We did not even put up a Christmas tree.

I've called the power company to come out tomorrow and test the meter. But does anyone with an electrical background can give me any insight to detect BS?

I did kill the main power switch on the box... killed everything in the house, dryer, heat pump, etc. and the meter is still turning.

 

Stop growing weed in your attic. :wink:

 

I was taught how to read conventional power meters, but they installed a digital read out.
and I have no clue what the large number means

 

If you killed the main breaker and the meter is still going... That definitely doesn't sound right.

 

Kill your neighbor.

 

Shoot it.

 

^ Maybe it was hit by a falling bullet

 

 

Well it turns out the power company was very helpful. They sent an email of a graph of daily kilowatt usage. They also had a line of the daily temps in the area. Massive spikes during the few cold days of Dec. and Jan.

So a 20 year old heat pump has a play in this. Of course a new system with all new duct work approaches $9k. I'll get the return in about 2.5 years in power savings plus I won't have to keep the house at 62 degrees in the winter and 78 in the summer.

It's just $9k and before tax season... :crying:

 

Show the inspector that - that is disturbing...

 

 

You might wanna switch to the battery powered fleshlight. I think Whiskers has a used one for sale in the BM.

 

Well getting a new Lennox system on Monday... AND $250 rebate from the installer, $500 from Lennox, and since they plan to honor the offer last year a $2500 credit for uncle Sam... even though the installation is in 2012... it's the date of the contract.

Plus my power company said I would get an adjustment in the price of a kilowatt hour with a new SEER 17 unit.

I bet the dog eats the entire thing by Friday.

 

Even with a new system I've found that setting the thermostat at 68degrees in the winter and 75 in the summer (and keeping your hands off it) is the only way to keep the bills from jumping durring peak periods.

 

68 degrees sounds like a blessing. Current old thermostat says 58 degrees. For christ sakes, it is warmer outside. And to get a $542 powerbill to "feel this comfortable."

All stopping come Monday. The neat thing about this system is that it has a programmable thermostat. Set it to go off during the day and warm up at nights and the morning. I even think Apple has an app for it. But with no Apple, I'm not getting that option.

But your advice is well taken. I've had many to say that running the thermostat up and down is a bigger waste than setting it and leaving it. I'll try both with the new tech and see what works.

 

On the topic of heat - we had an issue with the ignitor in our furnace. It wouldnt ignite so it was just pumping natural gas through the house. A HVAC company quoted just shy of $400 for the fix; $120 for the part, and ~$170 to drive across town to get it and install it. We said no thanks, got the part elsewhere for less then $20 and installed it today. Heat works again, not like we need it though.

 

Well what do you do when you piss away nearly $9K before 9 o'clock in the morning... drink a heavy shot.

The crazy part is that I've had $1000 on the craps table for a single roll of the dice and crapped out and was o.k. A stupid investment in the house feels like a bad bowel movement.

 

How old is this house?

 

Any updates?

 

How did the meter still spin when you cut the main breaker? Sounds like you are all set but was just curious. The first thing that came to mind was you might have a meter mix; where your meter number on your account is tied to a meter other than the one at your physical location, like a neighbors. This happens quite often at apartment complexes.