Hot Tub Forum

Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: Tatooed_Lady on April 29, 2006, 12:47:35 pm

Title: Energy cost - HS Grandee
Post by: Tatooed_Lady on April 29, 2006, 12:47:35 pm
this is hardly scientific, however....I just checked out my electric bill for the last several months, and being as it's usually pretty stable......
Bill date    Total electric charges
1/30/06      $116.09
2/28/06      $112.82
3/29/06      $130.18
4/28/06      $112.16

The tub was delivered on 3/30 or 3/31/06. The current rate for kWh is $.0999 around this area.  So we're POSSIBLY looking at $18 for the last month in electric?? All in all, I'm amazed that a 500 gallon tub in southeastern Wisconsin is so reasonable to run. Granted, we DID have a day of 80 degree weather...but we've also had our share of cold, wet, rainy, windy stuff (welcome to spring in Wisconsin). Guess I can tell the hubby to stop worrying, the tub's a keeper!  ;D
Title: Re: Energy cost - HS Grandee
Post by: East_TX_Spa on April 29, 2006, 01:37:33 pm
I'm anxious to see the results once you plug it in.

Terminator
Title: Re: Energy cost - HS Grandee
Post by: Brookenstein on April 29, 2006, 01:51:35 pm
Quote
this is hardly scientific, however....I just checked out my electric bill for the last several months, and being as it's usually pretty stable......
Bill date    Total electric charges
1/30/06      $116.09
2/28/06      $112.82
3/29/06      $130.18
4/28/06      $112.16

The tub was delivered on 3/30 or 3/31/06. The current rate for kWh is $.0999 around this area.  

So we're POSSIBLY looking at $18 for the last month in electric??


Based on your unscientific data, wouldn't it be more accurate to say that the tub saves you $18/mo.   ;D
Title: Re: Energy cost - HS Grandee
Post by: Bonibelle on April 29, 2006, 03:22:23 pm
Grrrrrr..I am still fighting my electric company TLady...but I am happy for you. Based on your tests...I know something is wrong here...My husband is willing to eat, shower and read without light, if it means we can keep the tub!  I just invested in miner's caps for the family ;D
Title: Re: Energy cost - HS Grandee
Post by: Gomboman on April 29, 2006, 04:01:35 pm
Good news Tatooed_Lady. You have cheap electricity where you live. It looks like you have maybe one month of use. Why don't you compare your last bill to the 05' bill to see the difference?
Title: Re: Energy cost - HS Grandee
Post by: hymbaw on April 29, 2006, 04:27:31 pm
I think you'll see something on your NEXT bill. Bill dates and read dates are different.
Title: Re: Energy cost - HS Grandee
Post by: shabba34 on April 29, 2006, 04:44:31 pm
Quote
I think you'll see something on your NEXT bill. Bill dates and read dates are different.
$18 sounds about right for that spa.  
Title: Re: Energy cost - HS Grandee
Post by: mxw128 on April 29, 2006, 08:18:05 pm
For what it's worth, I just went through having a meter put on the tub and for the three weeks we had it measured, the tub looked like it averaged around $16-$18 /month.  Our electricity costs here are about $0.0823 / kWh.  I have an 05 HS Vanguard....
Title: Re: Energy cost - HS Grandee
Post by: Tatooed_Lady on April 29, 2006, 09:07:29 pm
actually, we're planning on buying 3 more Grandees just so we can cut our electric bill even more. ;)
I'd compare the bill to same time last year, but we bought the house in mid-August, so can't do that until then. :(  Hopefully the bill remains relatively constant, because I can deal with the numbers around $20 per month EASILY.

Boni, I'm not sure what's up at your place, but I'm hoping you find out VERY soon!! Hopefully the electric company idiots that have been giving you the "what do you expect? It's a LUXURY item..." line can choke on their attitudes, and you get the last laugh on them.
If ever you decide to get creative, ask Term for ideas.....he's full of 'em!  ;D
Title: Re: Energy cost - HS Grandee
Post by: Bonibelle on April 29, 2006, 10:43:27 pm
MXW, Can you tell me about how you are metering your tub? I was looking at different kinds on line (and Drew was even helping me) My electric company suggested that I save my money and wait until they check things out. I am growing increasingly impatient as my electric bills continue to soar..  Did you have to have an electrician install the meter?  
Title: Re: Energy cost - HS Grandee
Post by: Chas on April 30, 2006, 09:11:11 am
http://www.energymonitor.com/
Put one of these on the main wires coming into your spa subpanel. It can be moved around to monitor other appliances also.
Title: Re: Energy cost - HS Grandee
Post by: Tatooed_Lady on April 30, 2006, 11:05:55 am
Quote
My electric company suggested that I save my money and wait until they check things out.  

Did you point out to them that the above statement is an oxymoron? "Keep spending double your normal bill until we get off our butts to FINALLY tell you that we screwed up...God forbid you spend $100 to find the problem IS ours before we're done with our coffee break....."  Those people drive me nuts....  >:( (short trip, though, and the view IS fantastic.....)  :-/
Title: Re: Energy cost - HS Grandee
Post by: Brookenstein on April 30, 2006, 11:37:32 am
Here is our usage since we moved into this house.  Any guesses when we got our tub?  Its not the obvious, lol.  Not sure what happened then...


Meter       kWh      kWh    No.    Avg     Total
Read        Meter    Usage of       Daily   Charges
Date         Read                 Days Usage  this Period  
4/19/2006 44161  1101 30 36.70 $231.53  
3/20/2006 43060  1400 31 45.16 $318.60  
2/17/2006 41660  1150 29 39.66 $227.77  
1/19/2006 40510  1167 31 37.65 $200.91  
12/19/2005 39343  1210 31 39.03 $197.29  
11/18/2005 38133  1327 31 42.81 $220.54  
10/18/2005 36806  1403 32 43.84 $227.03  
9/16/2005 35403  1330 31 42.90 $207.96  
8/16/2005 34073  1429 28 51.04 $234.98  
7/19/2005 32644  1617 32 50.53 $264.11  
6/17/2005 31027  1394 30 46.47 $229.57  
5/18/2005 29633  708 29 24.41 $99.01  
4/19/2005 28925  697 29 24.03 $93.47  
3/21/2005 28228  826 32 25.81 $113.38  
2/17/2005 27402  835 30 27.83 $118.17  
1/18/2005 26567  871 32 27.22 $122.16  
12/17/2004 25696  727 30 24.23 $100.25  
11/17/2004 24969  758 30 25.27 $104.86    
10/18/2004 24211  995 32 31.09 $138.16    
9/16/2004 23216  1596 30 53.20 $240.35  


We have a 1200 sq ft house in SoCal.  BTW, we have gas stove, heater, dryer, and water heater.  That bill is $15 in summer and up to $50 in winter.  We also as of 6/05 have a new high efficiancy AC unit.  Not sure if the increase this time last year has to do with the extra fridge and freezer in the garage, the 3 computers on all the time, or if a neighbor has an extension cord to their house to support their 'grow' operation.   ;)  It could also be that we leave the tv on when we go out for the day, lol.  Who knows... as long as I don't have $500 bills this summer, its all good.
Title: Re: Energy cost - HS Grandee
Post by: Micah on April 30, 2006, 12:03:55 pm
Quote
Here is our usage since we moved into this house.  Any guesses when we got our tub?  Its not the obvious, lol.  Not sure what happened then...
 
 
Meter       kWh      kWh    No.    Avg     Total
Read        Meter    Usage of       Daily   Charges
Date         Read                 Days Usage  this Period  
4/19/2006 44161  1101 30 36.70 $231.53  
3/20/2006 43060  1400 31 45.16 $318.60  
2/17/2006 41660  1150 29 39.66 $227.77  
1/19/2006 40510  1167 31 37.65 $200.91  
12/19/2005 39343  1210 31 39.03 $197.29  
11/18/2005 38133  1327 31 42.81 $220.54  
10/18/2005 36806  1403 32 43.84 $227.03  
9/16/2005 35403  1330 31 42.90 $207.96  
8/16/2005 34073  1429 28 51.04 $234.98  
7/19/2005 32644  1617 32 50.53 $264.11  
6/17/2005 31027  1394 30 46.47 $229.57  
5/18/2005 29633  708 29 24.41 $99.01  
4/19/2005 28925  697 29 24.03 $93.47  
3/21/2005 28228  826 32 25.81 $113.38  
2/17/2005 27402  835 30 27.83 $118.17  
1/18/2005 26567  871 32 27.22 $122.16  
12/17/2004 25696  727 30 24.23 $100.25  
11/17/2004 24969  758 30 25.27 $104.86    
10/18/2004 24211  995 32 31.09 $138.16    
9/16/2004 23216  1596 30 53.20 $240.35  
 
 
We have a 1200 sq ft house in SoCal.  BTW, we have gas stove, heater, dryer, and water heater.  That bill is $15 in summer and up to $50 in winter.  We also as of 6/05 have a new high efficiancy AC unit.  Not sure if the increase this time last year has to do with the extra fridge and freezer in the garage, the 3 computers on all the time, or if a neighbor has an extension cord to their house to support their 'grow' operation.   ;)  It could also be that we leave the tv on when we go out for the day, lol.  Who knows... as long as I don't have $500 bills this summer, its all good.

Brooke, it looks like your electrical bill went up $130 since this time last year.  Is the spa the only difference?
Title: Re: Energy cost - HS Grandee
Post by: Gomboman on April 30, 2006, 01:47:07 pm
Brooke,  

Wow, are your neighbors bills that high? I have a 3,000 ft house, similar appliance and the same spa as yours. My bills are less than half of yours. Actually, our last bill was $85. I belive we use the same power company. Something doesn't seem right.  


Quote
Here is our usage since we moved into this house.  Any guesses when we got our tub?  Its not the obvious, lol.  Not sure what happened then...
 
 
Meter       kWh      kWh    No.    Avg     Total
Read        Meter    Usage of       Daily   Charges
Date         Read                 Days Usage  this Period  
4/19/2006 44161  1101 30 36.70 $231.53  
3/20/2006 43060  1400 31 45.16 $318.60  
2/17/2006 41660  1150 29 39.66 $227.77  
1/19/2006 40510  1167 31 37.65 $200.91  
12/19/2005 39343  1210 31 39.03 $197.29  
11/18/2005 38133  1327 31 42.81 $220.54  
10/18/2005 36806  1403 32 43.84 $227.03  
9/16/2005 35403  1330 31 42.90 $207.96  
8/16/2005 34073  1429 28 51.04 $234.98  
7/19/2005 32644  1617 32 50.53 $264.11  
6/17/2005 31027  1394 30 46.47 $229.57  
5/18/2005 29633  708 29 24.41 $99.01  
4/19/2005 28925  697 29 24.03 $93.47  
3/21/2005 28228  826 32 25.81 $113.38  
2/17/2005 27402  835 30 27.83 $118.17  
1/18/2005 26567  871 32 27.22 $122.16  
12/17/2004 25696  727 30 24.23 $100.25  
11/17/2004 24969  758 30 25.27 $104.86    
10/18/2004 24211  995 32 31.09 $138.16    
9/16/2004 23216  1596 30 53.20 $240.35  
 
 
We have a 1200 sq ft house in SoCal.  BTW, we have gas stove, heater, dryer, and water heater.  That bill is $15 in summer and up to $50 in winter.  We also as of 6/05 have a new high efficiancy AC unit.  Not sure if the increase this time last year has to do with the extra fridge and freezer in the garage, the 3 computers on all the time, or if a neighbor has an extension cord to their house to support their 'grow' operation.   ;)  It could also be that we leave the tv on when we go out for the day, lol.  Who knows... as long as I don't have $500 bills this summer, its all good.

Title: Re: Energy cost - HS Grandee
Post by: Bonibelle on April 30, 2006, 04:02:24 pm
Actually when they deregulated in Pa, I convinced Brooke to use the same electric company as I do, PECO... She probably pays a little extra for the longer wire between here and California! ;D
Title: Re: Energy cost - HS Grandee
Post by: drewstar on May 01, 2006, 09:49:55 am
Quote

Based on your unscientific data, wouldn't it be more accurate to say that the tub saves you $18/mo.   ;D



Don't laugh Brook.  There is actualy a dealer out thier that shows customers an "energy report"  that did this.   I thought the dealer should be charged with false advertsing, but the dealer simply said "eh...it's what my customer told me".   Grrrrrr.


Tattoo
the electrical seems low.  Espically on months when you fill and/or do a water change out.   (Got to heat up the entire 500 gallons).    But,  I am glad you are happy.  ? How often are you using the tub?
Title: Re: Energy cost - HS Grandee
Post by: Tatooed_Lady on May 01, 2006, 09:57:31 am
Quote
Tattoo
the electrical seems low.  Espically on months when you fill and/or do a water change out.   (Got to heat up the entire 500 gallons).    But,  I am glad you are happy.  ? How often are you using the tub?

It only seems low until you're paying it. ;)  The tub was fired up March 30, and I'm ASSUMING that the current bill for the month of April has the electrical charges on it.  Anyhow, we're only using it a few times per week, at about an hour per use, half that time with both pumps on. Use has been cut back from the 5 or so times per week I WAS using it before since my husband and I are back to work for the most part...
For the most part, I'm thrilled by the tub. One pump is considerably louder than the other, but I THINK it's due to some of the hose underneath that's flexing into areas that don't have insulation stuck in them, and is just increasing the sound. I'll be talking to our dealer today about it, now that we've opened the front panel and taken a peek at what could be the issue.
From what I've heard so far, pump one is the larger pump, so SHOULD be the louder of the two.....but pump two is louder.....go figure. But it's a minor issue, so we're good.
Title: Re: Energy cost - HS Grandee
Post by: Bonibelle on May 01, 2006, 10:53:37 am
FINALLY...my electric company rep just called and said they would come Thursday. She said they should help me identify any appliances that could be contributing to my high bill...It is so amazing to me to have heard so many different approaches from the electric company. I got...You have a high dollar item that uses A LOT of electric  and that is what you should expect ...to the guy who told me they would come but not try to find the problem if it wasn't my meter....I really think it will depend on the individuals that show up.

This whole mess has helped my family look more seriously at the electric things that we have and try to be much more aware. We spent the weekend removing  dimmer switches from circuits so that we can use florescent bulbs. Because of the implication of the tub, my husband has been so cooperative...he is actually looking much greener lately  ;D.. Thanks to all who helped me and listened to me whine for months now...
Title: Re: Energy cost - HS Grandee
Post by: Tatooed_Lady on May 01, 2006, 11:09:06 am
The flourescent bulbs work very well for us. We've got some that I THINK are called 'daylight' or something like that. Not yellow-y, very white.....our neighbors think we're nuts keeping the house that bright, but it costs less, we can see, etc.....and we DO have regular incandescent bulbs around yet, we just don't use them much.
Good luck on NOT getting a lazy schmuck to check your meter and house!!!