My last OG&E post for now (unless I change my mind). Thanks to OG&E for inviting me to blog about SmartHours. It was a really interesting experiment in keeping my electric costs down and making me even more aware of how much energy our home is using and how it effects our environment.
There were a few technical glitches with the thermostat this summer and keeping the house at 80+ degrees during peek hours took some getting used to. However, reading a book over running the vacuum during energy conservation events was hardly a sacrifice. There were some afternoons when I really wanted to turn the temp down to 75 but knowing that I would save some cash kept me going.
Just how much cash, you say?
Read it and weep, baby.
So far we have saved $823.71 and the year isn’t even over! SmartHours savings will be over at the end of September and we will go back to regular ol’ pricing per hour. However, I expect the remaining months to be lower than last year because of energy savings tips we have implemented. Switching out light bulbs, installing ceiling fans, etc.
$823.71 people! I think being a little warm in the afternoons was worth it.
Here are a couple more fun charts and graphs for you geeky types.
Did you try and save this summer? Or, did you stay at a cool 72? How about this winter…have any plans to keep the savings going?
Disclaimer: OG&E asked me to participate in the SmartHours program and blog about it. I was compensated. HOWEVER, all thoughts, opinions, reviews, inclinations, praise, smart-alec remarks were my own.
Bob Blanchette
I noticed that your winter KWH use is higher than summer. Are you in an all electric house? Do you have a heat pump or regular resistance heating? $823 is certianly nothign to sneeze at, but it looks liek you have even saved more due to reduced KWH use by turning the thermostat up between 2-7pm. When you log into the myogepower website and click the “how can I save” tab does is show you $823 differnce between R-VPP and R-1?
Hugs, Kisses and Snot
Yes, our winter bill is always much higher. The heater is on quit a bit more than our AC and we do have a heat pump plus a unit in the attic we have to use when the temps get too low or we have feezing rain. It’s a real power suck. Plus, the way our vents were designed and placed in the house they are very inefficient. It’s very frustrating. But thanks for the reminder to check out mygoepower.
Bob Blanchette
If you haven’t done so already consider having an HVAC contractor or energy auditor look at your house/heat pump situation. OG&E is doing AC checkups as part of the HEEP program starting this spring according to thier FB page.