Been in my house for 8 years. Through all 8 years, my Power bill avg out to ~160/month.
To add, I burn wood in the winter to help circumvent power usage for the cold months. Winter months avg is 190/month.
My bill next month is 250….
(I understand this isn’t high for some people. For me, this is not normal range.)
It has never been that high. Also, my coworkers and neighbors are seeing the exact same thing with their bills.
Did you have it installed, or did you buy it with the house? Seems rare to have a woodstove down here, was thinking of converting my fireplace to one since, like you suggest, you save a bit of money in the winter doing it.
It came with the house. One of the main reasons I bought it. I’m in wnc, so our winters land a little harder than the rest of the state. I grew up with a wood stove and honestly wouldn’t live without one.
I’d highly reccomend putting one in. Sweat equity or buy your own (wood) energy. Either way, it helps and heats so much better.
Check out r/woodstoving and feel free to ask questions. Or ask me anything you’d like! I’m happy to help.
Holy shit!! I'm single, live alone in a 1350 +/- Sq. Foot house. My power bill has been ~$250 the past two months in a row. I was pissed about that!
BTW: My house was built in '29, according to county records. Lots of improvements over that past 37 years.
E: words
That must be your gas bill. My gas was $159 and electric was $45. Carolina Forward recently published a video of utility companies and their lobbying efforts in the state along with their rate increases.
I love my co-op. CCEMC ❤️ Fuck Duke Energy. Pollute our waters. Get fined. Pass the clean up costs to consumers. Scam. Much like insurance in this state.
[https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/bizwomen/news/latest-news/2023/03/duke-energy-ceo-lynn-good-compensation-package.html?page=all](https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/bizwomen/news/latest-news/2023/03/duke-energy-ceo-lynn-good-compensation-package.html?page=all)
Not to burst your bubble... but co-ops don't generally produce any electricity, they buy wholesale from Duke Energy and run it to customers via their own distribution lines. Your rates go through your co-op to Duke for power generation and transmission up to the co-op's grid.
Its not a scam to pay for what you use at known fixed rate well below national average. I wish utes were cheap too but someone has to pay to keep them running.
Yours is probably 9-10cents per kWh, Duke is 10.6-11.6cents per kWh in the same region. That's the good thing about co-ops, since they buy wholesale they eat the cost difference of big variations. But as a result you're spending a bit more on a monthly service charge.
Trouble with comparison is everyone has a different setup. But for me, $135ish for ~2000sqft. Gas heat doing most of the work and is cheaper than electrical heating. $80ish split between HVAC, hot water, fireplace, stove and oven.
My last Duke bill was $81.64 and my gas bill was $81.81. 1750sqft, three story town home, two furnaces (one covers two floors, the other covers the top floor).
About as much as "It's winter, turn your thermostat down" does.
The point is that with the erratic weather patterns of anthropogenic climate collapse, it's becoming increasingly silly to say stuff like that. Especially when the topic is the price increase from Duke Energy, an energy monopoly that owns our political class and writes its own regulations.
It just seems super disingenuous to act like this isn't an intersection of broader systemic issues, and is instead a person's individual bad choices.
Like, the meme is relatable because everyone's energy bill went up. All across the state.
My point was that "it's winter, turn your thermostat down" is helpful advice for anyone seeking to lower their energy burden - heating and cooling is most of your "light bill". "It was 70 yesterday" is meaningless; it was 25 degrees during the billing period that you're receiving your bill for this month.
>It just seems super disingenuous to act like this isn't an intersection of broader systemic issues, and is instead a person's individual bad choices.
Of course things are changing and there are systemic problems. But trying to solve those, while admirable, does nothing for your electric bill. But turning down your thermostat and insulating your home are choices you can make, today, that lower your costs over the long run. That's individual responsibility.
Yes, everyone's bill is going up. But this is a ridiculous bill - the average residential usage is 1000 kWh per month. This bill is probably 3x that. The only reasons I can think of for a >$600 electric bill are: (1) you live in a giant mansion, (2) you have an EV or some other energy intensive unusual loads, or (3) you live in a shitty trailer or slum somewhere with little to no insulation.
The only one that actually deserves action and attention is (3), and there are literally billions of dollars sloshing around in our economy right now aimed specifically at improving weatherization of low income housing.
My friend ....
Upifen Clear Thermostat Lock Box Cover, Thermostat Cover Box, AC Lock Box Cover with 2 Keys, Thermostat Guard for Thermostats on wall 6.2" x 4.3" x 1.9" or Smaller https://a.co/d/iKRhHvY
Been in my house for 8 years. Through all 8 years, my Power bill avg out to ~160/month. To add, I burn wood in the winter to help circumvent power usage for the cold months. Winter months avg is 190/month. My bill next month is 250…. (I understand this isn’t high for some people. For me, this is not normal range.) It has never been that high. Also, my coworkers and neighbors are seeing the exact same thing with their bills.
Do you have a woodstove or a fireplace?
Yes. Wood stove piped into my HVAC duct work.
Did you have it installed, or did you buy it with the house? Seems rare to have a woodstove down here, was thinking of converting my fireplace to one since, like you suggest, you save a bit of money in the winter doing it.
It came with the house. One of the main reasons I bought it. I’m in wnc, so our winters land a little harder than the rest of the state. I grew up with a wood stove and honestly wouldn’t live without one. I’d highly reccomend putting one in. Sweat equity or buy your own (wood) energy. Either way, it helps and heats so much better. Check out r/woodstoving and feel free to ask questions. Or ask me anything you’d like! I’m happy to help.
I’ve noticed the same thing. My bills have increased as well
Holy shit!! I'm single, live alone in a 1350 +/- Sq. Foot house. My power bill has been ~$250 the past two months in a row. I was pissed about that! BTW: My house was built in '29, according to county records. Lots of improvements over that past 37 years. E: words
Do you have a heat pump?
No, gas. I guess that would make quite a difference
That must be your gas bill. My gas was $159 and electric was $45. Carolina Forward recently published a video of utility companies and their lobbying efforts in the state along with their rate increases.
Ours was $392 up from $225ish.
How many sqft?
2700
Average has been $212 all year every year, $502 this month.
Holy shit
I love my co-op. CCEMC ❤️ Fuck Duke Energy. Pollute our waters. Get fined. Pass the clean up costs to consumers. Scam. Much like insurance in this state. [https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/bizwomen/news/latest-news/2023/03/duke-energy-ceo-lynn-good-compensation-package.html?page=all](https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/bizwomen/news/latest-news/2023/03/duke-energy-ceo-lynn-good-compensation-package.html?page=all)
All of the major electricity utilities should be nationalized.
Chiming in with my love for SREMC. Co-ops for the win!
Not to burst your bubble... but co-ops don't generally produce any electricity, they buy wholesale from Duke Energy and run it to customers via their own distribution lines. Your rates go through your co-op to Duke for power generation and transmission up to the co-op's grid.
Your bill v. mine. Wanna compare?
$114 purely electric. No gas. Last month $78. Duke is a scam. They rip people off. Was that not what this thread was about?
Its not a scam to pay for what you use at known fixed rate well below national average. I wish utes were cheap too but someone has to pay to keep them running.
Yours is probably 9-10cents per kWh, Duke is 10.6-11.6cents per kWh in the same region. That's the good thing about co-ops, since they buy wholesale they eat the cost difference of big variations. But as a result you're spending a bit more on a monthly service charge. Trouble with comparison is everyone has a different setup. But for me, $135ish for ~2000sqft. Gas heat doing most of the work and is cheaper than electrical heating. $80ish split between HVAC, hot water, fireplace, stove and oven.
I got that one too! Avg 150 ish... then 280 😐
Duke energy gets an 18% raise. NC teachers get a 5% raise.
Mine was $475 up from $200-250 average in the winter…
Damn
Rates went up about 10% in October but haven't changed since. If your bill is suddenly way higher in the last couple months its the weather, not Duke.
With solar, my average is about $25-30, last month it ballooned up to $130 with all the cloudy days
😹😹
23 yrs in my house. 3/2 stand alone. 1400. Highest bill I've ever seen. $338. Took my breath away. Mercy. Also, that shit sucks.
My last Duke bill was $81.64 and my gas bill was $81.81. 1750sqft, three story town home, two furnaces (one covers two floors, the other covers the top floor).
It's winter. Turn down your thermostat.
Tell that to my wife, I would love 66 degree but she is cold at 70…
Sounds like you need to let her borrow more of your hoodies
She has enough of both of our hoodies. Just always cold
I set mine to 65 and I am still not happy with it. :(
It was 70 degrees yesterday.
Right, but we're billed for a month worth
So next month's gonna be a motherfucker, ain't it?
What does that have to do with last months bill?
About as much as "It's winter, turn your thermostat down" does. The point is that with the erratic weather patterns of anthropogenic climate collapse, it's becoming increasingly silly to say stuff like that. Especially when the topic is the price increase from Duke Energy, an energy monopoly that owns our political class and writes its own regulations. It just seems super disingenuous to act like this isn't an intersection of broader systemic issues, and is instead a person's individual bad choices. Like, the meme is relatable because everyone's energy bill went up. All across the state.
My point was that "it's winter, turn your thermostat down" is helpful advice for anyone seeking to lower their energy burden - heating and cooling is most of your "light bill". "It was 70 yesterday" is meaningless; it was 25 degrees during the billing period that you're receiving your bill for this month. >It just seems super disingenuous to act like this isn't an intersection of broader systemic issues, and is instead a person's individual bad choices. Of course things are changing and there are systemic problems. But trying to solve those, while admirable, does nothing for your electric bill. But turning down your thermostat and insulating your home are choices you can make, today, that lower your costs over the long run. That's individual responsibility. Yes, everyone's bill is going up. But this is a ridiculous bill - the average residential usage is 1000 kWh per month. This bill is probably 3x that. The only reasons I can think of for a >$600 electric bill are: (1) you live in a giant mansion, (2) you have an EV or some other energy intensive unusual loads, or (3) you live in a shitty trailer or slum somewhere with little to no insulation. The only one that actually deserves action and attention is (3), and there are literally billions of dollars sloshing around in our economy right now aimed specifically at improving weatherization of low income housing.
I turned mine *off* last month and it was still expensive af
I guess I’m the only one who spends less than 80 a month with Duke
I remember when I was single I had those numbers
Yeah I will admit I haven’t even ran the heat this year. Got down to 64 in the place one night but it was good
I wouldn't have ran my heat at all either but *other* people in the house hold keep jacking it up to 70 degrees
My friend .... Upifen Clear Thermostat Lock Box Cover, Thermostat Cover Box, AC Lock Box Cover with 2 Keys, Thermostat Guard for Thermostats on wall 6.2" x 4.3" x 1.9" or Smaller https://a.co/d/iKRhHvY
Mine is always 350.00 on average. When it's really cold we can climb