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Post by organic girl on Oct 16, 2010 13:59:53 GMT 8
OMG you guys! No wonder you are investigating solar power. I recently did an online calculator (link below) to work out some ways to save. Try this and see if it gives you some clues. We have gas for hot water and cooking. We are also running 2 fridge/freezers, 2 tvs, dishwasher twice a day, washing machine 8 times per week plus computer, lights etc. When our usage goes over 19 units everyone gets a lecture. If we turned off the second fridge we could save a bit more. We moved to this property in January. Prior to that we were living for 2 years in town. We expected the usage to go up because of the water pump and it has, but only by 2 units per day. Hope this calculator helps. www.synergy.net.au/at_home/energy_calculator.xhtmlIf not, I have a device that measures energy. You are both welcome to use it if you like, I can post it to you, it's only small.
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Post by organic girl on Oct 16, 2010 14:06:59 GMT 8
There is something wrong Anne and Trev. I am not doing anything very special. I just googled and you guys are using more than twice the average. Have a look at this link. users.tpg.com.au/users/robkemp/Power/PowerConsumption.htmAverage for a household is 15 to 20 units per day. If you don't have kids at home I would expect it to be closer to 15 units. Wouldn't it be nice if you could find the culprit and more than halve your bill
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Post by quambie on Oct 16, 2010 18:04:15 GMT 8
HI Organic girl thanks for that I have just done it and printed it out it reckons that I should be using $454.39 per 60 days take in mind that I just got slugged for $752.15 where do you go with that one we have ducted R/C air con 8 KW motor but that is not on all the time I do have two fridges three freezers all the globes are the new kind inexpensive to run !!! we do not have a light on all night we do have two TVs one DVD I do have my desk top on all the time but I turn the screen off the pool pump is going for 8 hours per day none of this according to Synergy is that expensive to run yet I still get slugged. "one has to ask WHY" according to there own site I should be only half the rate they are charging me. Interesting that's what the Government guy told me he could not see where the cost was running away. I called Synergy they told me its always been like that, we cant see why it would be wrong/. Nor would I if it were me that owned Synergy. Interesting and I thank you for that Trev
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Post by organic girl on Oct 16, 2010 19:19:08 GMT 8
Trev would you like to try this device I have. It is a meter that measures consumption of individual appliances. You plug the applicance into it then put it into the socket and it measures the power as it passes through. I never ended up using it because our power is not too high. But something must be using all that power. You are welcome to it. If you would like to try it PM me your address. $750 is crazy money
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Post by quambie on Oct 16, 2010 19:51:59 GMT 8
HI Organic Girl I have one thanks, and used it. That's why I got the Government guy around he gave us the run around with each appliance in the place, it told him the cost per year, and the output of carbon and all that stuff. In his words nothing in your home is running away with the power, that's when I rang Synergy and the answer I got I have posted. Now I have to get them [Synergy] out and have a look at the metre if that's at fault they have to repay me fingers crossed we can find it. The air-con cant run away with over $ 150 per month, and we do not have it on for 4 hours per day each and every day watch this space . Again thanks for the offer Trev
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Post by shea on Oct 22, 2010 16:27:20 GMT 8
I've just got another power bill. 27 units per day and total bill of $372.94. I think we need to start working out where it is all going! The only thing I can think of is the beer fridge. Probably needs to seals. Everything else just seems normal usage.
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Post by quambie on Oct 22, 2010 21:01:06 GMT 8
I did the on line form that lets you know the amount of power and the cost you should be using on Synergy's web site and I should only use $280 not $ 753 I have a sparky looking into it for me I wonder how many others are getting ripped off Trev
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Post by millypede on Oct 29, 2010 8:43:29 GMT 8
hi guys, very interesting reading,some of your bills are unbelievable, i lived in karratha for years and even in summer i never got one more than $400,there must be some dogey meters involved, i got my solar panels this week, and with all the shark bay sunshine can't wait for the next bill(or credit) i average 5 units a day (but i live alone and work away) it's good to see all you'se reducing your footprint
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Post by quambie on Oct 29, 2010 12:59:14 GMT 8
HI millypede I have just asked for a metre change I have no idea how long that will take but all the time that one is hanging on the post its costing me big time say hi to the bay for me will you and good luck with the sola Trev
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Post by lakelands on Nov 1, 2010 14:04:37 GMT 8
my bills have trebled over the last 12 months my average bill was $350 12 months ago and has slowly gone up to $900.00.. we already changed to solar hot water and the bill is still going up I even had a ban on the reverse cycle air con over winter go figure.....
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Post by jacquie on Nov 1, 2010 17:37:38 GMT 8
for the first time ever i am eagerly awaiting my electricity bill so that i can see the difference solar panels have made, i saw the meter man come by the other day, but still no bill hehe. i just want to KNOW haha.
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Post by quambie on Nov 1, 2010 18:12:39 GMT 8
HI Jacquie this will be interesting I would love to know how you got on with your bill. I am still trying to get a metre changed, all the time I have that one I recon its costing me.
Lakelands I know how you feel we should start a club call it HEC the high electricity club trev
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Post by mikemurphy on Nov 2, 2010 8:06:41 GMT 8
We've had a complete solar system for several years. Great in summer but in winter we have to run a generator every few days. If you are on the grid this will not be a problem but we are not and have to keep batteries charged up. We use gas for the fridge and cooking, a wood fire, gas booster and solar for hot water and a wood fire and gas heater for room heating. Two of us use about 3 Kwh of electricity per day. In winter the panels put in 1 - 2 Kwh and in summer 3 - 5 Kwh. It all works but only with compromises and effort on our part.
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Post by mikemurphy on Nov 2, 2010 8:18:51 GMT 8
Some more thoughts. In the early days of our system we found a big problem was all the appliances that are on standby. Even when they are "off" computers, printers, scanners, modems, TVs, DVD players, decoders, all use small amounts that add up and which we had not included in your calculations. Also there are those LED lights on microwaves, stoves, stove clocks, battery chargers, alarm clocks, radios etc etc. All use miniscule amounts but over 24 hours seven days a week it adds up and there is no provision for it in any of the so-called calculators I have seen which all assume appliances only consume while they are "on". The answer is to switch everything off at the wall. We had to install wall plugs for some appliances which didn't have them but it helped get our consumption down. The other thing is to switch things on and run them less frequently. Every time time we switch something like a washing machine or vacuum cleaner on it sucks out a huge amount of power for a short period. Switch these things on less frequently and use them for longer periods each time rather than on and off frequently for short periods.
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Post by quambie on Nov 2, 2010 11:44:39 GMT 8
Hi Mikemurphy I had thought of this but the things you mention are on all the time through a lot of bills, why do they continue to differ each time there is no quick answer to this I have just had the largest row with Synergy you would think you had asked for the world just to get your metre changed by the way you have to pay for it they want everything print form they tell me they will not except an email yet if you email them they tell you they can except one there is a lot lacking with that lot I can tell you they do not want to change anything at all at the end of the day I do not want to pay over $700 each bill just for the two of us never had to before this is one battle I will win then I will be able to compare the bills and usage on this place Trev
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