Struggling with electricity bills?

[traveller (Bo)]

Originally Posted by wasyoungonce

Thanks for the links....a 4KW solar systems returns on avg (In Melbourne) 14.4KWh. I was guessing around a return. From what I have read a 4KW system will cost around $15K-$20K.

If I manage to reduce my pwr consumption to 40KWh then a 14.4KWh solar production is not enough. The outlay is enormous for not enough returns, for us in Melbourne.

I need to either: reduce our power consumption; look at a larger solar system (read big $...yeah right I need a bigger roof!); or suck it up.

I have a basic 1.5kw system, installed facing west, due to pitch of roof. I had it for just under a year now, and so far, i am still over $100 in credit. The key with solar premium feed in tarrif is the off peak rate, which is on weekends and after 11 pm week nights. So the PSFIT benefits those who work during the day. as a result, we now do most of our laundry on weekends and program dishwashers etc to run at 1 am. So with a slight change in our routines, we managed to beat the electricity bill. Oh, we are a family of four.

[jenchris (Jennifer)]

I'm around where Barry is - 11.5kwh per diem.
Gas cook top, electric water (but I'm a pom ).No clothes dryer. Front loader washer - small freezer and a fridge freezer.
Some mini flouros and some incandescent.
I try to turn off lights when not in use but don't really worry about it - don't turn off the tv at the wall.

House is about 40 sq.

I had a house guest last year and she doubled our power on her own! clothes dryer and water mostly. 20 min showers three times a day! (obsessive compulsive)

[blindman]

There is a much better and quicker way to poison yourself, than buying fluoro lights/bulbs.
At the end of the day, everybody will save on electricity and price will go up even quicker, boys, el. Companies have their own projections for future profit, don't you worry.
Class action or something should be started instead of thinking buying candles and switching off standby s !
Anybody agree ?
Cheers all

[GrampianStars (Rob)]

Originally Posted by blindman

There is a much better and quicker way to poison yourself, than buying fluoro lights/bulbs.
......
Anybody agree ?
Cheers all

I now use 7watt GU10 LED bulbs. they are rated at:
40,000 hours,290Lm, 3000K dimmable as well
replaced all 30 of the 50watt halogen bulbs, ROI under 2 years
total lighting watts now = 0.210 Kw.
total lighting watts before = 1.62 Kw

[blindman]

Apropos energy saving bulbs......please see attachment pic
Have a nice weekend !

[Barrykgerdes]

Originally Posted by jenchris

I'm around where Barry is - 11.5kwh per diem.
Gas cook top, electric water (but I'm a pom ).No clothes dryer. Front loader washer - small freezer and a fridge freezer.
Some mini flouros and some incandescent.
I try to turn off lights when not in use but don't really worry about it - don't turn off the tv at the wall.

House is about 40 sq.

I had a house guest last year and she doubled our power on her own! clothes dryer and water mostly. 20 min showers three times a day! (obsessive compulsive)

Of course the house guest offered to pay the excess electicity

Something happened to my Gas bill. I got one for $45 this quarter,normally $90. I have never had a gas bill before. It is was normally in another persons name who got a pensioner's discount. I had a bloke come around from the gas co last month and he said I should be on the bill and get my pensioner discount too. I hope this means we get two pensioner discounts and the bill is cut by 50% every quarter.

Barry

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

This bill the off-peak rate has gone up about 15% from the previous one and the peak rate 20%.

No more power used but the bill jumped a few hundred dollars.

[michaellxv (Michael)]

Originally Posted by mithrandir

This bill the off-peak rate has gone up about 15% from the previous one and the peak rate 20%.

No more power used but the bill jumped a few hundred dollars.

and they wonder why retail is suffering