Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Getting Off The Grid - Cutting Power Usage



When you are trying your best to get off the grid you have to make adjustments and that means cutting power usage, everyday especially when your home is total electric. After a month of trying to cut back in several ways I finally got the much awaited power bill from my local power company.

Last month, May, I decided to cut back in small ways because I knew I would use more air conditioning in the month of June, especially while taking care of a cancer patient at home after surgery and he is not to get hot and sweat for a solid week.

What small changes did I make? 

I did get my long over due clothesline at this place last month, May, and I have hung out all the laundry except a few loads. When I think back to all the places I have lived, this was the first not to have a clothesline. Now it does and always will as far as I am concerned.
 
 

I had done my homework and read over and over about how small appliances suck power even when they are not in use just by being plugged in, so every time I am not using the computer and printer I made sure to unplug it. Now its like an automatic movement. Another is the microwave. I mean you can see my plug in on the counter wall so its not a hard thing to do. Now this is also an automatic movement, use and unplug.

Although I am a bath loving person I cut the baths in half and went for the showers, especially in the morning before a meeting but I do need a soaking in hot water after a hard days work in the garden to relieve muscle pain and to prevent a trip to the doctor. By doing this I am cutting back on hot water usage. I do have a off/on switch for the hot water tank, the previous owners already had this in place.

Before I get into numbers I will say that the month of May is by far the best month ever because we don`t have to have much of either, heat not a/c, so its my lowest bill till the fall. Out in the country its called poor mans weather because he does not need to pay for either heat nor air.

My power bill was $134.31 in May for 1,051 kWh of power,average daily kWh is 36 per day and that covers from mid April to mid May, and that price is before I began to "unplug" and save more.

Now, how much Power did I use from mid May to mid June? 

I used 1,205 kWh, average daily kWh is 40 per day.

That means only a $25.71 increase in my power bill with air conditioning. 

So this month I owe only $160.02 and yes I am proud of that amount because wait till I tell you about February. 

To keep warm and using the clothes dryer my usage in February was :

2,750 kWh for one month!  $310.00 for those 30 days.

I now have to watch how much power I am using and not wasting because I do want that number to keep falling each month. Next project to help the numbers? Cutting off one of the deep freezers, after all I am canning more and more foods.
 

 

How much power did you use last month? Can you find small ways to cut your power bill?

By Andria Perry
Photo by Andria Perry

12 comments:

  1. I do everything in my ability to cut costs. Since I am the only paying the bills. I have no choice. Summer months electric bill always goes up due to the AC. It tends to take place of what I don't pay in the heating bill. Only $6.00 a month to keep the gas connected.

    I tend to open curtains to use sun light. In stead of the living room light on all day.

    I tend to turn the tv off when not in use. My boyfriend likes to have some sound in the background.

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    1. Since I am a caregiver, his t.v. is on all the time but when he is well leaves for the day I turn everything off and enjoy some peace and quiet. I do understand more than people know about being the only person paying bills and living on a budget. My power bill dictates how much and what other bills get paid.

      I tend to sing out loud when its really quiet and I want noise :) costs nothing.

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  2. I do try to cute cost where I can. Sounds like you are doing a great job.

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    1. Thank you. What are some of the things that you do?

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  3. Great savings!

    I try to save by turning things off where I can. Hubby won't let me unplug the electronic stuff, so I can't do that. Hubby doesn't like clothes line dried, so I don't have a clothesline. We do try to only do laundry late in the day when the rates are a little lower.

    We keep our house a little warmer than most people keep theirs in the summer, and a little cooler than most people do in the winter.

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    1. I try but its hard when one freezes and the other is hot.

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  4. Very well done ! I know those winter heating bills are budget busters in my area.

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    1. Its a shame too! I wish I could go to a fire place or wood burning heater for help on the power bill, it would lower it for sure!

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  5. I'm also trying to save on powerby not turning on lights in empty rooms and 3ven at work we leave banks of the flouisent off in different sections of our store. By keeping the drapes closed really helps keep the hot sub out and cooking on the grill saves using the oven.

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    1. I agree that using a grill will help too, I try not to cook much with the oven in the summer time, just the stove top. Its time to cook outside though.

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  6. Angie, don't you qualify for fuel assistance?

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    1. No, down here in Alabama you can take a bill to the local " I need" business and its all based on your income. You have to be near homeless to get any help.

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