Wow! Did We Get Ripped Off Last Year or What?

Last year at this time I wrote Ouch! My Heating Bill is Killing Me!!! about how high my heating costs were. I got my February bill yesterday and thought that it didn't seem as bad, so I compared my 2007 numbers to the (outrageous) numbers in 2006. Here's what I came up with:

Last Year

• December 2005 -- 259 CCFs used, $361.33 cost
• January 2006 -- 201 CCFs used, $282.40 cost
• February 2006 -- 227 CCFs used, $307.51 cost
• Total -- 687 CCFs used, $951.24 cost

This Year

• December 2006 -- 157 CCFs used, $159.08 cost
• January 2007 -- 222 CCFs used, $222.17 cost
• February 2007 -- 320 CCFs used, $291.91 cost
• Total -- 699 CCFs used, $673.16 cost

And just for fun, here's what I had two years ago:

• December 2004 -- 258 CCFs used, $228.13 cost
• January 2005 -- 248 CCFs used, $219.60 cost
• February 2005 -- 249 CCFs used, $220.45 cost
• Total -- 755 CCFs used, $668.18 cost

So, here are my thoughts on this information:

1. Holy cow! What a rip off last year! I paid $1.38 per CCF last year and only $0.96 per CCF this year. That's a 30.4% reduction year to year! Man, we did have high rates (like they said we would) in 2005-2006.

2. Looks like my total spending is back to the same level as in 2005. However, I was getting a lot more CCFs for my money back then.

3. We probably would have used more CCFs this year except for two things: 1) we regularly open our curtains when the sun is out and keep them closed once it goes down and 2) we insulated huge drafts in our front door and by our fireplace. These have made big, big differences in the drafts entering the house and thus (I assume) our energy usage.

Comments

[bk]

What sq footage do you have, and what temperatures do you keep your house at??? Either year, that seems like a high bill.

[FMF]

Temps are kept at 68 degrees in the day, 64 at night. Sq. footage is about 2,300.

We live in Michigan. It's COLD up here.

[cory]

Judging by this winter in Upstate NY, I'd have to say the usage doesnt seem all that extravagant, especially when you have people at home all day (children, listless college students). Having someone there from 9-5 puts a serious drain on the energy.

[justsayin']

This is why I live in a warm State, one you think is "too expensive" to live in and that I should "downsize." Our utility bills are never more than $100 month on the coldest time of year.

[FMF]

Yeah, but you probably get killed on cooling costs, taxes, housing and the like. There's no free lunch! ;-)

[freelunch]

No cooling costs. Don't even have a/c. It's always 70 degrees on the coast of California --it's reading 72 outside right now. Property taxes are low thanks to Prop 13. Housing was cheap when I bought 20 years ago.

[FMF]

No state income tax? No high cost of living?

[meagain]

State income tax is 9.3%, and no, there is not a higher cost of living here any more than anywhere else. At least not for me. I don't need a car as public transportation is readily available and relatively inexpensive. Food is much better and fresher here and the cost is nominal if you are a vegetarian, as I am.

[FMF]

Yikes on the tax! Or should I say "ouch"?

Anyway, sounds like you're better off than most. Look at any study on cost of living in CA and it's waaaaaaay high.