Trying to reduce my electrical bill $$$

R

Rodney

New member
With 3 x 250mh running it has really increased the electrical bill each month so I’ve done some research on my current utility provider which is ComEd. ComEd charges a flat rate for electrically usage no matter what time of day you’re using it.

My research has found my local utility company offers hourly rates which ComEd calls “Real-Time Pricing” or RRTP. When a customer is using the RRTP method, ComEd will charge less money during the evening versus during noon when energy demand is at its greatest.

I signed up and scheduled to get my meter switched over to a smart meter. Hopefully it will be switched over in the next few weeks.

For further information you can go here (the document link at the bottom of the page is helpful): https://www.comed.com/sites/homesavings/Pages/HSrealtimepricing.aspx

Hope this helps. Is anyone currently on this plan?
 
Just my $.02, read the fine print. You are better off staying with ComEd's standard pricing and ditching the MH for LED....
 
FishBeard said:
Just my $.02, read the fine print. You are better off staying with ComEd's standard pricing and ditching the MH for LED....
Click to expand...

Regarding the LED versus MH, yes I would save $$$ by lighting my tank with LED's but my cost on heating would go up using LED's. Cooling the tank has never been a problem since it sits in the basement, heating the tank has been an issue and that's why I have 800watts of heaters on it.

A thread talking about the RRTP program can be found here http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r23652808-ComEd-RRTP-letter~start=60. Looks like saving to me.
 
Sorry, didn't know you were having an issue with keeping the tank warm. How big of a tank are you keeping that you need 800w of heat AND metal halide to keep it up to temperature? It is hard to really suggest any information with as little as was provided to start, you ask if the program is a good idea or not, and in short my opinion is no. I offered a suggestion on how to save money on a monthly basis.

From what is provided, i can only assume that you have this tank in an unfinished basement that is not climate controller? Perhaps adding a register in the basement to provide additional heat to the entire room in the winter would be one solution? If the room is freezing cold, it doesnt make sense to run so much electricity to keep a tank going when you can just pay to keep that room heated in the first place.
 
How cold is your basement? I have my tank in my basement and have my tank between 73-74 and I have an SPS tank. Everything is doing well. No need to keep it warmer than that.
 
Basement is unfinished but heated to 68F. I keep the tank(s) about 76F, with the MH running the temp goes to 78F.

The issue with the cooling is the sump sits directly on the basement floor, great during the summer but not so good during the winter. I plan on building a shelf for the 55g sump shortly.
 
have you tried using something to control the heaters? i know ReefKeeper and other aquarium controllers have probes that will turn your heater on/off depending on the temperature in the tank.
 
WeePee said:
have you tried using something to control the heaters? i know ReefKeeper and other aquarium controllers have probes that will turn your heater on/off depending on the temperature in the tank.
Click to expand...

Yes, currently running a Aqua Medic Temp Controller, waiting for my DA ReefKeeper controller which I should get next week.
 
We switched to Spark Electric and have much lower bills now. Within the next 5 years we would like to set up a solar panel system.
 
nyckeeandnate6 said:
We switched to Spark Electric and have much lower bills now. Within the next 5 years we would like to set up a solar panel system.
Click to expand...

I heard of others switching power companies and saving. I'll give the ComEd hourly rate a try and switch if they don't pan out. Thanks
 
Rodney said:
I heard of others switching power companies and saving. I'll give the ComEd hourly rate a try and switch if they don't pan out. Thanks
Click to expand...

Be careful with the hourly rate, some peak hours during the day may negate any savings you accrued.
 
Forfend said:
Be careful with the hourly rate, some peak hours during the day may negate any savings you accrued.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip.

Already switched over my lighting to off peak hours which is most of my cost. ComEd will send out emails when peak hour usage warnings so hopefully I can avoid those hours.

Was thinking of getting TED to monitor all my power usage in the house once I get switched over. http://www.theenergydetective.com/

Still no word from ComEd about install. :ballchain:
 
"We switched to Spark Electric and have much lower bills now." nykee and nate if you dont mind me asking how much are you saving a month after the switch?
 
I am on the Comed hourly real time pricing plan for the last two months. Both months I saved around 30% on my electric bill. The other people that I know that are on the plan have saved that as well. In the past two months I think there has only been maybe 4-5 hours where the prices were higher than the .07 that is Comed's flat rate. On the flip side there hase been 50 plus hours overnight where the rate was 0. The average rate I have been paying is less than $.03 per hour over the last two months. So far I am very happy with the plan. My bills may be slightly more in the summer when electricity can be higher but from Sept-May I will save far more than the possible higher rates in the summer.

The other thing I did was switch my lights on later in the day and run them through most the night, run my dehumidifier at night and avoid using high energy consumption items during peak times.
 
goat585 said:
I am on the Comed hourly real time pricing plan for the last two months. Both months I saved around 30% on my electric bill. The other people that I know that are on the plan have saved that as well. In the past two months I think there has only been maybe 4-5 hours where the prices were higher than the .07 that is Comed's flat rate. On the flip side there hase been 50 plus hours overnight where the rate was 0. The average rate I have been paying is less than $.03 per hour over the last two months. So far I am very happy with the plan. My bills may be slightly more in the summer when electricity can be higher but from Sept-May I will save far more than the possible higher rates in the summer.

The other thing I did was switch my lights on later in the day and run them through most the night, run my dehumidifier at night and avoid using high energy consumption items during peak times.
Click to expand...

Thanks Goat, I really appreciate the feedback. Great to hear the 30% saving. My average bill is running a little over $200 per month so this should add up.

ComEd just switched my meter out this afternoon for a smart meter. It's now waiting time again for the Billing cycle to kick in and then I'll be on the hourly rate. Pretty painless on the switch over, ComEd did the switch over without having loss any power to the house (clocks around the house where fine and not blinking).

I have already switched my lighting cycle to the evening hours. Great ideal about the dehumidifier, didn't think of that. I'll also put my RO/DI booster pump on a timer so it's only running in the evening hours. Reviewing the ComEd site for the hourly rate, I see from 7am to 9pm are peak hours for today and 3am this morning was running at .6 per kWh. Nice.
 
What about using a Killawatt meter? See if there's a way to use more efficient equipment? For example; a more efficient pump
 
7Hogwarts said:
What about using a Killawatt meter? See if there's a way to use more efficient equipment? For example; a more efficient pump
Click to expand...

Sure, more efficient equipment will save me money in the long run but I would still be paying the same per kilowatt. Buying new equipment will be expensive versus switching my electric plan that doesn't cost anything upfront.
 
I understand about the same price per kilowatt. but I'm in it for the long run. 30 plus years so far. And I replace as stuff wears out, breaks, upgrades, I look for ways to help me.
 
7Hogwarts said:
I understand about the same price per kilowatt. but I'm in it for the long run. 30 plus years so far. And I replace as stuff wears out, breaks, upgrades, I look for ways to help me.
Click to expand...

Totally agree, plan is to move into LED lighting towards the end of 2012 or sooner.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top