SAVE ON ELECTRICITY

Most people where I live use more power than heating because it gets so stinking hot in the summertime and our winters are pretty mild - chilly, but not freezing cold where you need ski jackets.

So what happens when you crank up the A/C?  You pay thru the nose, that's what.  So, since Barry and I NEED some kind of cooling during those HOT months, we've discovered a way to save on all our other electricity use.  Here's how:

First, we made our electricity company our friend instead of thinking of them as our enemy.  We used to think the big fat cats would sit behind their desks watching us sweat while the malls, casinos and amusement parks sucked all the energy out of the homes.  But that just ain't so, we discovered.  

With just a few clicks of the mouse  I was able to  see my  monthly, daily and hourly usage.
Super neat.
Not only was I was able to determine which days were higher than others I was able to see exactly what time my electricity peaked.

And, as the sun went down we discovered when the lights went on, the TV went on, the light & fan on the stove went on, can opener went on, the garbage disposal went on, the phones were plugged into the chargers, the dishwasher went on and a load of laundry was thrown into the washer, our electricity soared.

With just one call our friendly electric company advised us to look at their website again and click on this picture.  Well, we pretty much knew that already.  So we called again and this time they walked us through reading our meter along with watching our online charts.

                                       

Oh, my gosh.  Life just got sooooo interesting!!!
We learned that when you read the numbers on the right the last number will be the one t hat moves when you use kilowatts. For each kilowatt hour that you use it will go up one.  Like the odometer on your car.
The more you use, the higher the numbers go.  

Sooo... what the heck is a kilowatt hour???  

They explained (of course) that in California during the winter months (Oct to June) they (the electricity company) will allow you 10.5 killowatt hours a day for a month at .09 a kilowatt hour (kwh).  If you use more than allotted, then your rate goes up .11 a kwh.  If you use more still, then it goes up as high as .19 a kwh.   

They explained it's like them giving us a bucket of energy...

This is the 1st bucket of energy they give for the month.  They charge  .09 for every kilowatt hour.  Picture the bucket holding 10 & 1/2 cups of water and taking out 1 cup of water at a time.  Each cup is like a kilowatt hour.  They call this bucket Tier 1.  When you used up your bucket, then you have to use another at .11 for every kilowatt hour in that bucket.

           

                     

The second bucket is called Tier 2 at .11 a kilowatt hour.  If you use all in both buckets they will give you a 3rd and 4th and even 5th at .19 a kilowatt hour.  

                                               

                     

Confused?  We weren't too confused at this illustration, but were more concerned how to live on just ONE bucket!!  (I even said to the sweet representative, "WHAT DO YOU WANT US TO DO??? LIVE BY CANDLELIGHT?????"  The sweet rep said, "Unplug your appliances you are not using".  (remember, the power company is your friend, not your enemy, although I didn't think so at the time).  

Now, here's were I got educated - and this goes for any state in our country that use city or state electricity:

When your appliance is plugged in you are paying for a constant flow of electricity hour after hour even though your appliance is turned off at the switch!!!  You have to UNPLUG in order to stop the electricity flow.  AND, don't let those power strips fool you - even if you turn off the breaker switch, it's still plugged in!!!

And do you know what???  IT WORKED!!!!!  Our electricity bill dropped by 85% just by unplugging when we aren't using!!!  And, friends, I am not kidding, you can do it too!!!!  (See?  I told you the electric company was your friend )