Smeco?

MMDad

Lem Putt
Question: is it better to keep the thermostat set at one temperate all the time (say 74 degrees) vice keeping it warmer during the day when no one is home (say 78 degrees) and cooler in the evening/when people are home? Which saves more money?

If it's a hot day and you leave the thermostat at 74 the AC will run part of the time to maintain the temperature. Depending on your house and your system it will vary but let's assume 20 minutes/hour.

If you set the AC higher during the day it runs far less to maintain 78 degrees, assume 10 minutes/hour.

If you're gone for 8 hours, it runs for 80 or 160 minutes for that time.

If it takes one hour to cool the house from 78 to 74 degrees, you will have run the AC for 20 minutes less that day by setting the temperature up.

Bottom line, if you have an AC that runs right and is properly sized, setting the thermostat up during the day will save you money.

My programmable thermostat saves me about $50/month, and ensures the temperature is where we want it when we get home.
 

Pete

Repete
I have a programmable thermostat and used to do the 78 during the day and 73 nights and weekends. One day I reset it to 74 all the time and let it go and it made virtually no difference at all.
 

Chasey_Lane

Salt Life
I have a programmable thermostat and used to do the 78 during the day and 73 nights and weekends. One day I reset it to 74 all the time and let it go and it made virtually no difference at all.
I don't really see that much of a difference myself, but I also don't have a huge electric bill. It stays under $200 a month.
 

ICit

Jam out with ur clam out
I don't really see that much of a difference myself, but I also don't have a huge electric bill. It stays under $200 a month.


:yay:

I checked and my bills have been within a few bucks from the same time last year. Last year in June was my highest month at 178 and this year was 175

I looked and compared all other months and they were all within reason! :yahoo:


big rooms, and high ceilings will put a hurtin on any heat/ac bill! :huggy:
 
I've ignored SMECOs nudges for me to sign on with their Cool Sentry program for the past couple years... Well, now they've sent a post card saying "we'll be in the area and will be setting you up for this unless we get written notice not to do so by such and such date"....:cussing:

Should I mail in the written notice to decline or should I just give in and give them full control of my energy usage...:confused:
 

DEEKAYPEE8569

Well-Known Member
It depends on when they read the meter.
When they get it automated it will probably always be the same.

Something you can do yourself if you're curious about how much you use. If you still have the analog meter; with the "dials" on it; read it from right to left and if the dial is between numbers; round UP.
 

Vince

......
Holy crap!!! :yikes: That's bit high. Mine just dropped $30 this month, but it's the end of the fiscal year so I must have paid a little too much during the year. They always make it up at the end. One year I got the last month free.
 

DEEKAYPEE8569

Well-Known Member
I don't really see that much of a difference myself, but I also don't have a huge electric bill. It stays under $200 a month.

At one point, I was down to ONE functioning light bulb. I would take it from room to room, but it would take SO long for it too cool off; that's what socks were for.
Made myself laugh.
 

Chasey_Lane

Salt Life
I've ignored SMECOs nudges for me to sign on with their Cool Sentry program for the past couple years... Well, now they've sent a post card saying "we'll be in the area and will be setting you up for this unless we get written notice not to do so by such and such date"....:cussing:

Should I mail in the written notice to decline or should I just give in and give them full control of my energy usage...:confused:
How will they get access to your house if you're not home or don't open the door?
 

SamSpade

Well-Known Member
PREMO Member

I feel your pain. Ours is similarly bad and has always been that way.

Since I've made just about every energy saving measure I can think of, I have to believe that our house is just badly insulated or drafty. The only months of the year when the electricity costs are in the range of these other folks are in the fall and spring, and only briefly.
 
How will they get access to your house if you're not home or don't open the door?
They only have to come in the house if I want their thermostat. They can put the restrictor on by my central air units without me being home. They get "permission" to do so by me not notifying them in writing that I don't want them to do so.

Do you have their Cool Sentry restrictor?
 

Vince

......
I've ignored SMECOs nudges for me to sign on with their Cool Sentry program for the past couple years... Well, now they've sent a post card saying "we'll be in the area and will be setting you up for this unless we get written notice not to do so by such and such date"....:cussing:

Should I mail in the written notice to decline or should I just give in and give them full control of my energy usage...:confused:
SMECO has never sent me anything to decline the program. Just stuff to sign up for it if I wanted it. Answer: No. I'll keep control of my thermostats. And my electric bill is just fine below $190 a month.
 

ICit

Jam out with ur clam out
I've ignored SMECOs nudges for me to sign on with their Cool Sentry program for the past couple years... Well, now they've sent a post card saying "we'll be in the area and will be setting you up for this unless we get written notice not to do so by such and such date"....:cussing:

Should I mail in the written notice to decline or should I just give in and give them full control of my energy usage...:confused:


oh hell no!! no one will control what my house is set at.. If I come home in the middle of the day.. and feel like crap or have a headache and want to set the house at 74 or 70.. then I will! If they control it they will bump it up to 80 or higher.. :yay:

I do my part and bump mine to 79 when I leave.... That should be good enough! :coffee:
 

Chasey_Lane

Salt Life
They only have to come in the house if I want their thermostat. They can put the restrictor on by my central air units without me being home. They get "permission" to do so by me not notifying them in writing that I don't want them to do so.

Do you have their Cool Sentry restrictor?
I have the CS system that was standard with the house. We have our own programmable thermostats that we intend to switch out, just haven't gotten around to it. I hate the CS system, and their thermostats are crap!
 

Vince

......
They only have to come in the house if I want their thermostat.
And where would they make the change? On the meter? And how would they do that without killing power to the entire house? They can't put something on my outside units without my permission.
 
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