[Tom Hannon]

WE were in our new home for 7 days. We just received our first electic bill. OUCH! After the first time start up charge and deductiong the $40 - our bill cost $100. What would it be if we lived in it all month? We don't have any television yet nor have we used our electric oven. One load of wash and one dishwaher run. Kept the temp at 76 for the week we were there. We set it at 80 after we left for NY. What is the average electric bill for a designer home (IRIS).

[pooh]

We've got a Lantana with gas and electric. I have a spa that has to run a few hours each day, but I haven't got the heat on for it...gas if I need to warm it up. Air conditioner is set to 78, I have computers and flat screen tvs going, electric for washer and dryer. My last bill with Seco was $202.55. $177.08 was the actual electric charge, the rest was for power adjustments, taxes, etc. My gas bill with Teco was $30.07 - of which $24 is total gas charges. In the winter, the TECO bill is high because of heating, the electric bill is smaller because the air conditioner is off.

Does that help at all?

[Tom Hannon]

I assume the electric bill from Seco is monthly? On LI the bill is bi-monthly. Was hoping we received a one month bill because the billing cycle ended in September.

[llaran]

you were probably charged for the electric the workmen used befor you moved in, your bill should be in the $200 range.

[pooh]

Originally Posted by Tom Hannon

I assume the electric bill from Seco is monthly? On LI the bill is bi-monthly. Was hoping we received a one month bill because the billing cycle ended in September.

Seco is indeed a monthly bill as is Teco, which you won't have in Buttonwood. What is the start date for your SECO bill? Does it start when you closed or is it for a period before closing? If I understand correctly, you should only be billed from the time you take over the electric charges from the developer.

[Tom Hannon]

The bill was from date of closing August 16 thru September 16. Like I said, we were only there for one week.

[gardenia]

As llaran stated, the SECO bill probably includes the electric charge from the construction. I am currently under contract for the build of a new home to be delivered in November, and there is a clause in my contract that reads "....buyer agrees to pay for electric and gas used in construction and testing of systems of the home up to SEVENT FIVE and 00/100 per utility". Hope this helps. I was expecting it, having read it in my contract.

[barb1191]

Suggest that you install a humidistat if you plan to be away during the hot weather. The humidistat will cut your electric bill in half each month WHILE YOU'RE NOT THERE. It sure worked for us before we became frogs.

There have been many threads on the humidistat here on TOTV that you can learn about by putting a search on the word.

Also maybe you should contact SECO and inquire about the charges. Maybe you have a faulty meter.

[red tail]

im in a cyv all electric and keep thermostsat on 73. my bill for the last 2 months has been $250. we have an older unit so not very energy efficient.

[barb1191]

Originally Posted by gardenia

As llaran stated, the SECO bill probably includes the electric charge from the construction. I am currently under contract for the build of a new home to be delivered in November, and there is a clause in my contract that reads "....buyer agrees to pay for electric and gas used in construction and testing of systems of the home up to SEVENT FIVE and 00/100 per utility". Hope this helps. I was expecting it, having read it in my contract.

Disgusting clause!!!! This can be a good reason to consider buying a pre-owned.

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by barb1191

Disgusting clause!!!! This can be a good reason to consider buying a pre-owned.

Tom, I would ask Seco before jumping to conclusion about this. If you do, please post their answer. Thanks.

[villages07]

I don't think $100 is that high for the month of Aug 16-Sep 16. Keeping the thermostat at 80 (without the dehumidistat) probably ate up some kilowatts. New construction is all-electric so you just get the one monthly bill. Read the bill carefully ... how much of the charge is actual usage vs their account maintenance fees. Make sure there's no special one time first month fees in there.

But, again, all in all I don't think $100 is that bad.

Like Pooh, we have both gas and electric and my last combined bill is somewhere around $210. A/C set to 78. We live here full time.

I think the A/C is your biggest user of juice.

Also, do you have blinds or anything else covering the windows? You'd be amazed how much more heat is let in (to be cooled by A/C) from uncovered windows.

[Pturner]

BTW, Did you turn water heater off/low when you left?

Ours is gas, so we can't turn ours off, but we do keep it on very low setting when not there.

[laryb]

Tom, we have an At Ease that is 1481 sq. ft. We stayed there a week and a half when we closed and my sister-in-law stayed with us. We did lots of laundry and took lots of showers. Kept the temp at 73 and used a de-humidistat when we left. Our bill for the month was $161.38. from that deduct:

5.95 surge lease
40.00 connect fee
25.00 surge installation
5.00 membership applied

So with tax and power cost adjust. it was about $85.00. Did you deduct the connect fee and any possible surge charges?

[swrinfla]

I've just opened my SECO bill covering 34 days (08/12-09/15) for my Gardenia, with thermostat at 75: $236.15.

Over the year ending 08/12, I averaged $120.89 per month! That does NOT include gas (TECO).

True, had I been in your shoes, I'd have changed the thermostat to something like 80. But, I was here in what has been noted to be one of the hottest summers in decades!

SWR