Originally Posted by Holladay (Post 10898166)

As for as pre-pay, for the electric in summer, nope. I control the temp.

For winter thou, level for propane gas. Propane can spike a bunch in a year. I have horror stories when we first bought the place (farmhouse built in 1903). It had no insulation in the walls with moderate insulation in the attic. The upstairs had no heat, only gravity feed (vents/holes in the 2nd story floor where warm air flows up). The windows were original, rattled in the wind with cracks in the panes. Snow would come in during the night and wake up with a nice pile sitting on the floor. I slept in my old army sleeping hat wearing a union suit under thick German feather blankets.

During the winter of '97, the price of propane was $.60/gal in that fall. It spike to $2/gal. The house was a sieve, as mentioned above, we used 500/gal per month for 2-3 months. Do the math! Crazy. $1k/month.

Over the years, replaced all windows, updated the AC/furn, insulated everywhere, re-sided the house etc. And even added on 2k ftsq. After we did all the improvements on the old house, monthly $250 gas. When we added on, with better insulation, maintained around $250.

Thus for gas, we level pay throughout the year. We contract in august for 1,000 gal. This last year was at ?? $1.43/gal. It lasts us all year and no fear of a gas spike.

Originally Posted by eDave (Post 10897193)

Being in AZ, I set my AC to 86, plus ceiling fan in whatever room I am in, and it is cool. 84 for sleepy time.

Going below 80 is a financial disaster when it is 110 outside but I'll do that if I have company.

Originally Posted by BWillie (Post 10899449)

Your ball sack must smell terrible. I dont know how you could stand that. I leave mine at 74 in the summer, but its 69 in the basement where I hang out whenever I can in the summer

Originally Posted by Buehler445 (Post 10899548)

Sleeping is the big thing. I just flat out won't sleep at anything under 74 and that's WITH a fan blowing over my face. I will just lay, sweat and be one angry son of a bitch.

Originally Posted by Rain Man (Post 10898011)

They have a program here in Colorado where the utility company controls your thermostat. In peak times they remotely raise or lower your thermostat. They've offered some incentives to sign up for it, which I read with the same expression I would use if confronted with a pony-sized tarantula.

And no, I don't use level pay, either. Cash on the barrel. You give me amps, I give you dollars. I don't want a deeper relationship than that. That said, my bills sure vary a lot. Since I don't have air conditioning they'll be as low as $70 in the summer, and I always have one winter month these days where it tops $400.

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish (Post 10897153)

"Grab a blanket" to kids in gym shorts/tank top in house complaining that it's cold.

Originally Posted by Buzz (Post 10897982)

On going battle at our house. I keep it at 78 in the summer, wife bumps it to 75, winter I put it to 70 she bumps it to 74. Since I pay the electric bill, I try to keep it comfortable without breaking my wallet. Looking forward to a cool off so I can shut the thing off and open the windows and save a few bucks.

That said, how many here are on level pay? I pay as we go.

Originally Posted by Donger (Post 10899665)

They control your actual thermostat? Xcel?

I know they have the Switch Saver program, but that just gives them remote access to your A/C at peak demand (load shedding).

I hadn't heard anything about them having a program to actually control your thermostat.