SECO Bill
 

Hi Everyone,

Just recieved our electric bill and it was up $50 this month which is also $50 more than the same month last year. Since we are not there in the summer we have a humidistat and it has really helped keep electric costs low.

Was the humidity that bad last month compared to last year so that our air ran that much more?

Is anyone else away now and using a humidistat? Did you notice a jump in your bill this month? Just trying to figure out if the humidistat is working the way it is supposed to OR if something may be wrong with it.

Thanks for any input - looking forward to returning in a few weeks!

Humidity was about the same, but do remember, SECO is a co-op and prices from one month last year may be different for that month this year. Depends on what it cost SECO to purchase that electricity. What we did notice was that our bills this summer were a bit less than the same months last summer. Do you have someone who can check your house for you?

I was just looking at my latest bill online. This summer has definitely required less KWH as it has not been nearly as hot as last year.

30 days ending Aug 23, 2012 ... 1080 KW $132

30 days ending Aug 24, 2011 ... 1280 KW $159

A/C set at 78, 2 elec golf carts, full timers; Gas for HWH, dryer, oven (ha ha...never gets used), "heat"

So, you might want to have someone check out what's going on at your house. Also, make sure you closely compare the two bills to be sure it is apples to apples on usage, days in the cycle, etc.

Good luck.

We have been here all year and have a 2 BR masonry CYV in Tamarind Grove that is all electric. Our July bill was $117, and last year at the same time it was $135.

We have a Whispering Pine model. We are gone for the summer months. We have a humidistat installed keeping it at 60% humidity and 78 degrees a/c.
Our average usage for June thru August has been $35 per month. Do not have a electric cart. We turn off the breakers on our water heater, dishwasher, cook stove. Pull plug on TV's and microwave. Just have a couple of lights on auto on/off.

We are away and using a humidistat. Last two bills were approximately $30.

We have a Tuckett cottage, 3 bdrm. almost 1500 sq. ft. & my last 2 bills were $24.62 & $22.19. We are snow birds & humidistat is set @ 60/85.

mine was up $20 from last time

What is the difference between a " humidifier" and a " Humidistat"?
Please please, excuse my ignorance....And if the humidistat helps lower the power bill, where can one buy one? Home depot?

The difference is one puts humidity into the air the other turns ur a/c on when it gets to the humidity level u set it for. This means your a/c runs based on the amount of humidity in your house rather than by temp. only. You use a humidistat only when ur going to be gone for long periods, like snow birds.

Ackowledged!
Thank you!
We won' t be snowbirds but house will be empty until early june, so, we will look into this device!
Again, thank you for the useful info.

For comparison:

Our electric bill in Norcal for 29 days thru 8/22/12:

1102 kwh $217.41


Daytime temps in the mid 90's to low 100's all month (no humidity issue). Temps in low 60's from 10 PM to 8 AM. A/C set at 78 and comes on around 2 PM from overnight cool down.

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Don't know if a humidistat is available from the big box stores. We had ours installed by our heating/cooling contractor, Munn's.

Humidistats are available at big box stores but...if you don't plan on being away from home for long periods of time (snowbirds) it probably won't be cost efficient. Having one installed by an HVAC contractor will be a few hundred dollars.

We got our first humidistat from Munns and had it installed. When we moved, we bought one from Ace Hardware and a friend installed it. Humidistats have saved us thousands of dollars (over six years) in air conditioning costs.