[Michelle]

we just moved into our first house and I got the electric bill $179 for this month and we only lived in the house for 3 weeks of that.

Now online it’s projecting $300 for my next bill.

I’m trying to figure out why this might be the case. Could it be due to something I’m overlooking, like faulty appliances, poor insulation, or an issue with the electricity meter?

I’m also wondering if certain habits or settings, such as leaving devices on standby or having the air conditioning running constantly, might be contributing to the high costs.

I’d appreciate any insights or similar experiences that could help me understand why my electric bill is so steep so soon after moving in.

Are there specific things I should check or ask my utility provider about?

Any advice on how to troubleshoot this issue would be really helpful!

Please help!!

[Mandy]

I’m in a 3 bedroom duplex and got a $125 bill. I’m still in shock. I’ve used as little as possible.

Either they really are adding street lights to my bill now or it’s just more corporate greed.

Who knows?

[Pamela]

Unplug everything you aren’t using
If it’s plugged in for your convenience, you are paying for it.

Turn everything off.

Set your AC to 76 and don’t change it.

Clean air filter monthly. Room darkening curtains.

Just a few tips
I’m in a 3/2 over 2100sg ft and my bill is $204.

I do all the things I advised you to do except, I keep scentsy wax warmers on all the time.

[Lisa]

Budget billing is the only thing saving us but it is nearing the time of year when they redo the estimates and we fear how much more it will be.

You can only unplug, unuse, and be miserable so much per month.

[Pamela]

I guess I can’t complain that mine is for water and garbage and is only $140 during the middle of summer for 1,500 sq. ft.

house and provided by the city.

[Jess]

Mine was $715 and I was conserving energy. We did have 2 weeks of triple digits though.

I had to double check the bill to see if they got last months payment.

Sadly, it was all for 1 month

[AB]

The new green deal folks! More of your green, that is.

[Mary]

Lmao !!! Ya’ll should see the 800.00 to 2000.00 electric bills in California last couple months since they increased rates.

[Angela]

Congratulations on your new home. Electricity is crazy expensive. It’s a good time to weatherize.

Seal up cracks etc.

take a good look at your new home and unplug stuff you are not using.

Check the outside of your home as well for anything that needs filled or repaired.

It’s best to get to things before it becomes necessary.

[Jennifer]

Between the current inflation and the recent increase in our property tax…it’s been rough! Hoping it will get better.

[Lisa]

If you’re low income call and see if they offer a discount, in CA there is the CARE Program for 20% off of your bills for most utilities.

It helps.

After that I’d say try to slowly acclimate your family to higher temps.

Also get a thermostat that’s programmable with a phone app, so you can turn it off when no one’s home and turn it on before you arrive.

Plus also see if someone is lowering the temp when you’re not home!
Best of luck!

[Ellen]

I live in Florida in a regular home now, and my bill is about &130 a month in the summer.

That normal for us but it will go down to $70 in the winter.

When we lived in a manufactured home though the bill was around $300 a month.

The insulation is poor and the ductwork was found to have holes in it… but I asked around and that’s about what my friends paid who lived in manufactured homes.

[Ellen]

I had this happen/ two questions… do you live in the south or in a hot climate?

And is it a trailer or double wide?

It’s unavoidable if you answered yes to both.

If you just live in the south an it’s not a manufactured home- insulate insulate and have a hvac tech check the ductwork and ac for pulling extra power.

[Allison]

Ours is $800 in the summer. I work refuse to be hot.
Call your electric company and ask if they have programs or recommendations

[Tina]

Request to get on the budget plan and ask for the electric company to come out and reply the meter.

[Liz]

My house is 4400sq ft and built in the 1800s. My electric is normally in the 200 range.

I keep ac at 78, heat at 58. I unplug what I don’t need.

I use energy saving black out curtains in the summer and open them during the day time in the winter.

I block off rooms I don’t need.

I also use an app from my electric company to monitor usage.

It breaks it down hourly

[Annette]

Virginia, electric Co op 234. 3 bedroom, 100 degree days for weeks, and we keep.our rv plugged.in

[Diane]

We paid over 300 last month, but sons electric car was plugged in for much of it.

We also turned air to 74 from 72.

We just retired and we are home way more.

Crossing our fingers this is not the new normal.

[Adrienne]

If you moved to a southern state then the air conditioner is to blame adjust the temp and it’ll go down.

[Mari]

Brand new 2800 sq ft home with a hot tub running all the time and ac running all the time. $250 a month.

[Nena]

Unplug everything except your stove and refrigerator. Turn off your hot water heater at night or have a timer installed.

Only plug in small appliances as needed and unplug immediately when finished.

Turn out all lights when not in use.

[Rachel]

$200 and a bit in the dead of winter and blazing summer for our 3 bedroom two story 1920s poorly insulated house.

We have the temp at 72 daytime and 70 nighttime year round.

We live mostly on the first floor.

We have a heavy curtain between our living room/bedroom and the rest of the first floor….its closed anytime we are asleep or if we use the oven or stove in the summer.

Only one window ac unit in the living room. No room for a dryer so evwrything is hung up inside to dry.

Everything stays plugged in.

All lights are LED so some are left on 24/7. We used 965 kwh last month (temps in the 90s) and 13.5 therms for our 1970’s always on gas stove pilot lights and hot water.

Bill was $180.

[Amber]

We’re on month two or 3 of ours being $300 and it’s projected to be about that on the next one too.

It’s just been so dang hot! I’m ready for temps to drop!

[Kathy]

Unplug everything that is not in use, examples microwave, toaster.., switch to energy efficient light bulbs

[Jennifer]

I am in VT and the electric company has raised their rates 4 times already this year!

They are saying it is for “storm damage”.

I am using 600-800kwh less than I did last month and my bill is $70 higher!

It is getting outrageous!

[Mary]

Congratulations on your new home. Yes, those utility bills can be alarming.

Not knowing where you live, but it was very hot here this week, but had a couple not so bad days so we turned off the AC.

I think that us the main thing you can do to help

[Author]

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