how to keep Electricity down

[JamaicanHerbMan]

Stealing power or rewiring a meter is Bad bad bad idea !! Stay within a normal usage range and you'll be fine, worse case they do call and ask about the usage, just give them a good story. But stealing will get you busted, the company wants there money and they will use any means to find people who steal. Grow safe and smart

JamaicanHerbMan Reviewed by JamaicanHerbMan on 07-20-2007. how to keep Electricity down How do people in here keep the Electricity down? I ask cuz dont that set off an alarm to the cops or someone that can make your day really bad? Or is that not really a problem? Rating: 5

[jamstigator]

I have an old Dell XPS computer with a power hungry video card and a 450 watt power supply. Because of the circuits in my house, in the summer I have to turn the computer off to turn my 400 watt light on, and not blow a breaker. So yeah, one 400 watt light is basically about the same as one good-sized computer. There are no laws against having four or five such computers either. In fact, I have friends who have half a dozen or more such computers, so their power bills are kinda high.

My power bills this summer are running about $450/month. That's running central air, a big window AC unit, two computers, three LCD televisions, three stereos, a 432 watt eight-bulb 4-foot Teklight 24 hours a day, two refrigerators, a 400 watt HPS light (digital ballast) 12 hours a day, and a 1000 watt HPS light (magnetic ballast) 12 hours a day. Had no probs, and don't expect any, as the bills are always paid on time, and have been for the last 30 years or so.

I have started converting the entire house to CFLs, and it's helping. Every time I go to WalMart, I buy half a dozen 13w CFLs and replace incandescents. Last bill was more like $420, so the CFL conversion is starting to have an impact.

[wowman5]

Electric companies are starting to install new, digital meters for their customers. These meters allow the meter reader to just drive by the house to record your usage. Also, they are able to monitor when you use your electricity because the companies want to charge more for usage during peak times (during the day), and less for after hours usage. That means these new meters will be able to detect usage patterns for individual homes. EG. from 9 PM to 9 AM every night Joe Blow's usage spikes by 2400 W or whatever.

Naturally, you are going to want to save money by running things at night, but these patterns are what cops will look for if they have probable cause to investigate you, not necessarily the amount of electricity you use.

So, stay safe all.

Use 15 watt CFL lights in the whole house, and for the garden have the lights on with your alarm clock, they come on when your alarm clock goes off and turn off when you go to bed. Theory is, the electric used will show that at 4:00am you get up and at 10pm you go to bed, nothings running while you sleep. Also put it behind your furnace to off set FLIR hot spots, If they use FLIR they will see your furnace and water heater glow.

[aikidoisbudo]

police cant get a warrant just cuz u got a big Electricity bill

perhaps not but it sure arouses their curiosity!

[khyberkitsune]

$60/mo power bill with LEDs, in the desert of SoCal.

BUT LEDs are expensive. Well, not so much now (but the cheap ones are still ones to be wary of.)