What to do with you have record heat!

[Larwyn]

Temp is 102 here at the moment humidity around 40%. Came in about an hour ago and turned on the AC, so far it has the temp inside down to 83, feels purty good compared to outside. I try not to spend too much time during the day under the AC because I like being able to handle the heat. So far so good.

[Cliffmeister2000]

(Hey, where is the "cents key" on my keyboard?)
Roly

My keyboard doesn't have any cents either, Roly. Some say I don't.

To get this: ¢

Press the ALT key and while holding it down, type in 0162.

Easy to remember, huh?

Yup. Just remember to type the 0162 on the 10 key pad. Typing it in with the numbers on the top of the keyboard does not work.

To get º (degrees), hold the <ALT> and type 167 on the 10 key pad.

[Cliffmeister2000]

In July I got the highest electric bill I ever had. $369.00. And we were gone 9 days!

We only cool to 80º. I've threatened to put a window A/C unit in the master bedroom, and move the TV in there.

If I don't find work pretty soon, the bank will assist me in fonding a nice, 750 sq ft apartment to live in. It will be cheaper to cool.

[ssrjim]

Not much of a problem in foggy Eureka CA. Our typical summer day high temp is around 60 to 65 degrees.

Jerome

rub it in, rub it in

[ssrjim]

In July I got the highest electric bill I ever had. $369.00. And we were gone 9 days!

We only cool to 80º. I've threatened to put a window A/C unit in the master bedroom, and move the TV in there.

If I don't find work pretty soon, the bank will assist me in fonding a nice, 750 sq ft apartment to live in. It will be cheaper to cool.

I do the budget billing, no surprises....

[Larwyn]

Not much of a problem in foggy Eureka CA. Our typical summer day high temp is around 60 to 65 degrees.

Jerome

rub it in, rub it in

We run the central unit from three in the afternoon until around 10:30 at night. We then turn off the central unit and turn on the little window unit in the bedroom and run it until around 5:30 or 6:00 in the morning. Usually do not bother to turn the central unit back on until 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon, sometimes a little later. The electric bill has been lower so far this year as compared to last year when we just left the central unit on 24/7.

[caseydog]

In July I got the highest electric bill I ever had. $369.00. And we were gone 9 days!

We only cool to 80º. I've threatened to put a window A/C unit in the master bedroom, and move the TV in there.

If I don't find work pretty soon, the bank will assist me in fonding a nice, 750 sq ft apartment to live in. It will be cheaper to cool.

Do you have a rolling average plan? I get my electricity from an electric coop (socialized electricity) so I pay less than most folks in Texas who depend on the "free market" for their power, but my coop also allows me to pay on a rolling balance, so my monthly bill does not spike in summer, and crater in winter. My monthly bill is based on the average of the last 12 months, and can't go up more than $5.00 over the amount of $88 based on a three year average of my usage.

So, my electric bill is $88.00 per month, plus or minus $5.00.

Another plus to my socialized electricity is that I am a co-owner, so I get a dividend every year, applied to my balance. But that's beside the point.

The point - look into averaging. It takes the pain out of seasonal spikes, and makes it easier to establish and maintain a budget.

CD

[Cliffmeister2000]

They have a rolling plan, but that would just have me paying in advance. If I could pay in arrears, I might consider it.

I throw money into savings to cover the 3 -4 months of high utility bills we have here. Except Mid June to mid October, my combined gas and electric is under $100, sometimes as low as $70.