Hydro Cost's
 

OK i just received my bill for the last 2 mos $321.00 and the the bill before that was $385.00 .Is this normal?it seem s to me that the bills use to be around 150.00 so it has doubled.What are your Guys bills running at.
here is a list of thinks running


3 250w Mh on tar ballast's (9hrs a day)
2 165w vho's (5 hrs a day)
1 cs8-1 Skimmer
1 powerhead
1 250w heater
1 mag 18 for closed loop
1 mag 12 for return pump
2 icecap 4" fans (9 hrs a day)

I am running 4x250w MH, 4x40w actinic, 3 MAG 18's, 1 MAG 250, 2 AC 802's, plus my whole house and heat my garage with electric heat and mine is $180/mo.

i will call hydro out tomorrow ,could be a bad meter.Or something else is drawing to much .I have had my HRV running from oct-mar 15 ,so i am not sure if that would cause the increase.With the HRV and Furnace fan running 24-7?

my furnace fan also runs 24/7...oh and a large dehumidfier all winter. Plus I run all types of shop equipment in my garage, compressor, mig welder....I would agree with a call to hydro.

Thats pretty high. Reminds me of the ole heating bills in Thompson when it was -40 for over a month.

My previous tank with three 400w halides and a couple of 100w plus pumps, was not even close to that.

The HRV draws minimal power.

I had a similiarly huge hydro bill. Nov & Dec $285. Seemed about normal. Jan & Feb $605. I was shocked. Hydro actually sent over someone to check my reading because they figured I screwed up. The only thing I can think of is Nov & Dec was estimated.

Well phoned hydro ,and the guy was no help at all.He said that i must have added something new in those months.I asked if someone could check my meter,but of course there is a $35.00 charge.i guess i will have to wait and see on the next bill.I am not running the Hrv and duct heater right know,as it is not needed.

I think my HRV only uses 2.1 amps, and it is a fairly large unti. A duct heater can use a lot of power though. I would argue that you don't need a duct heater except when it is really cold.

They estimate one month, come out and read the next and bill you for the difference. The only time they estimate twice is if they can't get to the meter for whatever reason(9 feet of snow, dog, etc).

Mine goes in two month increments. So the check it every 4 months.

Yeah your right about the duct heater,i also opened it up to find out the thing was cranked to the the max .The fellow said it should be at 50 or half way.The funny thing is in the winter when the furnace was not on,the air did not seem that warm.

man, thats pretty steep for h2o
glad i'm in cowtown

Its not water they are talking about its hydro electricity. :mrgreen:

ah...that make more sense. Thanks, Ryan

Still pretty expense for power. I guess that comes with the territory...

Actually Manitoba has the lowest cost for hydro in Canada. One of our few benefits for living here. :lol:

I agree the problem may well have been a constant running, inline duct heater. I was going to install one of them in Thompson, but held off. I never really thought about it here, but I have a woodstove downstairs.

Does your HRV fresh air, feed into the furnace?

MY HRV feeds directly into the furnace. I have no duct heater and it is not needed at all.

Some "mechanical" contractors say you need one, or else humidity will be a problem in the HRV unit. That is wrong on most new HRV units. They will work for many years w/o. They are just trying to sell you something IMO.

I would only run it when it is around -25 or colder.

my tank is about 15.00 per month to run

2x 400w
2x 300w heaters
36w Uv
110 w return 3MD
soon to be 58 w euro reef
fans about 10w

Is that it? 15 a month with halides? My girlfriend keeps trying to blame my tank on the hydro costs going up. It's a pair of seio 620's, a 150w heater and 4 39w T5's, plus a skimmer. I knew she was going crazy.

How much do you guys pay per KWh? I always thought BC was the cheepest.

Steve

re Power
 

i just got my first shocker
523.00 for one month for my epcor bill..which is power and water
OUCH....
They were sitting a about 200 per month before this hobby
and slowly built up to this
So don't feel bad, you ain't the only one.
Someone was telling me that power in edmonton went up like 25 percent since the new year? doesn't anyone know if that is true?
Neal

We pay 5 cent per KW here in manitoba 15.06 with all including my 400's
13.65 per month with my 250's

ahh ok so you pay the same as us pretty much.

I think with all the pumps I got going and 2 HQI 250's 1 400, two 96 watt VHO's, 4 overdriven powerglows on the fresh water tank, two 55watt PC's

I figure it is about 25 bucks a month, which is 5 bucks cheaper than my hot tub.

Steve

It says on the bill is going up 2.4% for water and power is 8.496 kw

Your bill is for two months, Quinster's typical monthly bill is for one month, that would mean yours is about bang on for two months, would it not? Or did I miss something?

Chris

Don't forget in the summer you have to pay for the extra AC to cool down your house after you pay for all the extra stuff that heats up your house, including the added extra humidity.

:smile:

Hi Ben. Good to hear from you. Must be awful busy. Slowly getting settled here in Brandon. I will let the guys know you have an excess again. :smile: