Not since Nov 2000 - Jan 2001 have I been this obsessed about heating bills. Our next heating bill is at $179. Sunday is the heaviest use of gas in our house.
Yesterday I fiddled with the thermostat settings and thought if I turned the heat off at night we might save some dough. My spouse shouted/argued with me for five minutes instead.
"I don't want high heat bills," I said.
"If the rates go up we're going to pay more."
"Which is why we should use less," I counter.
"I've not been taking the car out so much," he said.
"It doesn't feel that way to me. I seem to be refueling every eight-nine days," I said.
"Cars lose fuel efficiency in the winter," he said, "and the car was being refueled every 4-5 days."
Yikes. $165/month. I thought it was $120. Now we're spending $100/month on gas, altogether for three vehicles: $75 car; $18 big scooter; $7 scooter.
I wonder how much pressure I can apply on him to have our windows replaced. I read here about people with $120/month heat rates and I seethe with envy, but not enough to make my husband warm.
Then again, my electricity bill comes to $25/month every month, and I bet in the south and east the summer bills for electricity are much higher.
But you know, even the President, the guy who said "I encourage you all to go shopping more," wants a 20% reduction in energy usage. I don't want to waste energy. I want to be a good citizen.
Heating Bill obsession
February 17th, 2007 at 01:38 am
February 17th, 2007 at 01:52 am 1171677150
Of course, I suppose one of the few advantages of being single is that I set my own thermostat.
Seething with envy eh? What eloquence. I suppose then you'll hate me because I'm currently average $80/month. *HIDE* But, I'm mostly only one person, I live in a closet. So, no need to envy my eccentricity.
But I do recommend switching to oil-filled heaters if you haven't already. They've been working great for me.
February 17th, 2007 at 02:12 am 1171678348
February 17th, 2007 at 04:06 am 1171685212
February 17th, 2007 at 04:21 am 1171686062
February 17th, 2007 at 04:28 am 1171686488
We have a separate bill for heating. I have spent most of my life in Canada so I know about hydroelectricity bills, but here we have bimonthly bills for water/sewer/waste management/recycling, and electricity, and monthly bills for heat -- I switched from oil to natural gas. Our hot water probably is at 60 degrees C. 250CDN is hugely high: are you in Winterpeg or Ottawa or Iqaluit or something?
February 17th, 2007 at 02:58 pm 1171724298
I have no idea why you would need the heat on at night. Get some blankets - tell your hubby to suck it up. LOL. We have been a little more conservative with small kids. But most of the time we turn it off these days. My only problem is the little one won't keep on his blanket and can't really put it on himself so we are a little more careful with him. But as soon as he can keep a blanket on I can't imagine ever turning on the heat at night again.