$600+ Electric Bill

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angelsbandit

Well-Known Member

• Aug 3, 2009

• #21

At .12 per kwh it should cost $2.88 per day or $86.40 per month to run your two 1kw lights on 12/12.

A 10,000 but a.c. unit will use around 1kw, so running 24 hrs it would use 24kwh per day - the same as the lights.
The total cost to run your lights, and A.C. should be about $172.80 per month based on the .12 per kwh rate.

However, if you use the .31 per kwh figure the cost of the lights and A.C. would be about $446.40 per month

 

spazstic

Well-Known Member

• Aug 3, 2009

• #22

angelsbandit said:

At .12 per kwh it should cost $2.88 per day or $86.40 per month to run your two 1kw lights on 12/12.

A 10,000 but a.c. unit will use around 1kw, so running 24 hrs it would use 24kwh per day - the same as the lights.
The total cost to run your lights, and A.C. should be about $172.80 per month based on the .12 per kwh rate.

However, if you use the .31 per kwh figure the cost of the lights and A.C. would be about $446.40 per month

Click to expand...

Exactly. My baseline is 400-450 kWh and I am sure I use that with the TV, washer, fridge, PC, etc. That is around 14 kWh a day.

Once the grow is accounted for it jumps up a lot more, and I get into the $0.25-$0.31 range pretty quick. $0.31 is 200% over baseline - so anything over 800-900 kWh. Not hard to get to.

And the AC probably is sucking closer to 1400 watts, my guess is.

 

SiriusGrower

Active Member

• Aug 3, 2009

• #23

Regarding people checking your meter, I have heard it is practice in the UK that the police look for sharp increases of power consumption to find some growers. This isnt so much of an issue with CFLs but if you suddenly strt using 2000W per hour 24~18 hours a day for lights it would deffinately catch some attention.

Maybe it's rubbish, I hope I haven't fueled anybodies paranoia lol

If your using CFLs which I think you did say, $600 is beyond excessive. Maybe yor neibour has found how to use your electricity or someting lame?

 

spazstic

Well-Known Member

• Aug 3, 2009

• #24

No, I don't think the neighbor is tapping into mine. I calculated out that I use around 70 kWh each day, so it's all me.

And it's not CFLs, it is 2kW HPS. The AC is what is killing me I think.

 

JeepBeep

Active Member

• Aug 3, 2009

• #25

I bielive they are checking to make sure the meter is functioning properally since there was a big jump in ussage. Once they determine its fine you are good to go. You may want to look into applying for finacial aid from Edison.
My Buddy up north avg. 1200$ a month in his elec, but pays out only 75$

Got to love the good ol USA

 

JeepBeep

Active Member

• Aug 3, 2009

• #26

Your AC is going to be one of the major factors. If it is a stand alone unit, and turns on and off alot it will greatly increase your usage. When they start up they are usually pulling 125% of the rated wattage.

My AC jumped my bill 40$ per month

spazstic said:

No, I don't think the neighbor is tapping into mine. I calculated out that I use around 70 kWh each day, so it's all me.

And it's not CFLs, it is 2kW HPS. The AC is what is killing me I think.

Click to expand...

 

spazstic

Well-Known Member

• Aug 3, 2009

• #27

Yeah I was thinking of trying to get that aid. I've got a buddy who gets it and he shits a brick when his bill gets above $100.

 

genfranco

Well-Known Member

• Aug 3, 2009

• #28

JeepBeep said:

I bielive they are checking to make sure the meter is functioning properally since there was a big jump in ussage. Once they determine its fine you are good to go. You may want to look into applying for finacial aid from Edison.
My Buddy up north avg. 1200$ a month in his elec, but pays out only 75$

Got to love the good ol USA

Click to expand...

Shit i want to apply... who is eddison?

lol.. no really how do you get on this?

 

jberry

Well-Known Member

• Aug 3, 2009

• #29

that is not a suspect bill, trust me a $600.00 bill will not arise any suspicions.

my bill is well over twice that amount and the power company loves me... it was only a 100.00 before i moved in and they never even asked why it went up, which is non of their bussiness anyhow... if they do ask, just tell them that you are aware of the usage and that there is no problem.

just always pay your bill on time.

 

jberry

Well-Known Member

• Aug 3, 2009

• #30

(if u dont live in cali/or likewise than the deals off... this is advise for medical marijuana patients)

 

kraykush

Active Member

• Aug 3, 2009

• #31

that's extremely expensive....you will definitely get noticed unless you have a reason for such high voltage. I would recommend dropping 1-2 grand on those UFO Led Lighting sytem mixed with a 600hps. Your monthly bill should get down to about $100 of less.

 

jberry

Well-Known Member

• Aug 3, 2009

• #32

i figure that if ur within your legal limits than it doesnt matter what your bills are.

 

jberry

Well-Known Member

• Aug 3, 2009

• #33

led's arent advanced enough yet...
they suck unless your cloning.

 

zerran elar

Well-Known Member

• Aug 3, 2009

• #34

Mann... you happen to turn your ac on?

 

M

Mr.Bob Saget

Active Member

• Aug 3, 2009

• #35

Hey man, back to your question. You live in a single family home which has the meter attached to your home correct? It the little glass bulb that has a meter in it? And your saying the power company has came out multiple times and opened it up? What was your base line power bill before you start the opp, $125.00 a month?

You need to immediately stop what you are doing and clean up imo.

 

abayareabum

Member

• Aug 3, 2009

• #36

From what I understand PG&E only goes after power bandits. You'd be surprised how easy it is to steal electricity undetected, I know. Check out a Kill a Watt. These are about 20-30 bucks. It does a electricity cost analyst of your appliances. Kinda kewl. http://www.p3international.com/products/special/P4400/P4400-CE.html

 

jberry

Well-Known Member

• Aug 3, 2009

• #37

my grandparents have a $500.00 bill and they obviously dont even grow. thats just from them running the a/c all the time and leaving lights and tv's on and shit like that.

like most people are saying, im sure they just r checking to make sure the meter isnt faulty since there was a sudden jump in the bill. and again 600 isnt a big deal, you could be running a number of things to make your bill that high.

why would they care that you are buying a lot of their product at a extremly high price? you are just another good wealthy customer in their computer system.

i understand everyones concerns. for those who arent legal, i would stay in the 500 and lower range. for those who r legal... stay within your plant limits and pay your bills.

 

kraykush

Active Member

• Aug 3, 2009

• #38

I just think that when your cultivating, you don't want to draw any attention and having high electricity bills will definitely get some attention. You would just buy a battery or an electricity reservoir and use that. It will definitely lower your bills!

 

strictly seedleSs

Well-Known Member

• Aug 3, 2009

• #39

My bill is $250 a month, and Im only using a 400w setup. Im installing a 2000w hps flower room, and a 432w HO t5 veg room. Im expecting $500-$600 a month.

 

bratva

Member

• Aug 3, 2009

• #40

Dang I just lost all I wrote

Basicly greenhouse it switch to grid power or an alternative energy source solar,wind,water maybe even a generator to complety reduce or offset cost.

Lower the power usage of equipment like someone earlier said use lowered powered lights ( LED CFL HID )for vegetative and HPS for flowering every little helps.


i just remembered reading an article about some greenhouse expert engineer using the principle of what stores now do use half of the lights instead of all of them but he uses all the lights just not on all at the same time and has his lights setup switching on and off in a zig zag pattern from his experience yield a growth weren't affected