Warm November, cold December
Extreme temperature changes partly to blame for jump in winter electric bills
A mild November followed by a chilly December caused electric bills to climb this winter, sparking customer calls to Chelan County PUD offices.
Mark Wiser, conservation program manager, said his department handled more than the usual number of customer inquiries related to heating bills. But a closer look at seasonal temperatures explains why.
“The average temperature in November was 40 degrees,” Wiser noted. “The average temperature in December was 23 degrees.” That will nearly double your energy use. Add this year’s 9% surcharge and a customer will see a much larger bill than November. This year’s average temperature is comparable to last December, but this year’s bill includes the surcharge.
Commissioners instituted a temporary 9-percent electric rate surcharge May 1, 2009, to last for up to 12 months. The rate surcharge, coupled with cost-savings measures, were aimed at reducing a budget deficit brought on by lack of snowpack, the economic recession, and a steep decline in revenues from the wholesale sales of the PUD’s hydropower. Increased residential energy use in December can also be attributed to the holidays, with Christmas lighting, cooking, and guests in the house using more appliances, electronics and hot water.
For customers with specific concerns, PUD staff can chart electric use from year to year, adjusted for temperatures. The information is presented in Watts Used Per Square Foot. A fairly energy-efficient older home or new home with a heat pump should use approximately 2.5 watts of energy per square foot at 20 degrees outside temperature. The same home with a forced-air electric furnace should use about 3.5 watts per square foot. Use above the norm can signal the need to look for air leaks or other problems. Use under the norm means the customer is enjoying the benefits of a comfortable, energy efficient home.
Wiser noted that base use – the amount of energy used year-round, regardless of the season – is increasing worldwide as consumers purchase more wide-screen TVs and other energy-hungry electronics. A 2009 report by the International Energy Agency warns that energy used by computers and consumer electronics will increase threefold by 2030. Average base use varies from .5 to 1 watt per square foot, Wiser said.
For more information contact Wiser at 661-4382 or e-mail mark.wiser@chelanpud.org.
Chart shows energy use in a Wenatchee home before and after a heat pump failed and was repaired. PUD Conservation staff can help customers pinpoint problems by charting their energy use this way.
Thank you for this information. I would appreciate more of this type of information about my own energy usage than is present on the bill. Specifically, instead of seeing a graph of the last 13 months of utilization, I would like to compare three years of monthly data, with the average monthly temperature posted above each bar. Having the information about the the last three Aprils and the average monthly temperature for each would allow me to better see how my seasonal household activities affect my bill.
Thank you.