May 31, 2012

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It is completely overcast this morning.

It rained much of the day yesterday, and it rained last night, and the skies are still cloudy this morning — so, while I must apologize for the quality of today's photo, it really isn't my fault.

Nevertheless, if it is too hard to read in the photo, this morning's reading is 3037. Yesterday's reading was 3017. Therefore, my consumption in the last 24 hours has been 20 kWH, a considerable dropoff from what it had been in the days prior when we were dealing with temperatures in the mid–90s.

That really doesn't surprise me. Temperatures really have gotten cooler, as the forecasters had been telling us, but I was skeptical, as I think just about any veteran of north Texas summers would be about a cool front that was supposed to come through around the first of June.

But, by golly, it was true. It finally did crack 90° yesterday afternoon, but it was cool and overcast most of the day.

Forecasters are calling for highs in the mid–80s today. We'll see if tomorrow's high really is 81° or 82°, as the meteorologists have been saying, or if the inevitable return to the 90s will begin that day.

Still haven't received my latest utility bill, but this time I have photographic evidence to contradict the fictional estimated readings they've had on my most recent bills.

May 30, 2012

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I apologize for the quality of today's photo.

We've been dealing with some storm fronts this morning, and it has been overcast and raining most of the morning. There have been periods of sunlight, but they have been spotty.

Anyway, if you are having trouble reading it, today's reading is 3017. That's consumption of about 34 kWh — not surprising considering how warm it was yesterday.

The forecasts say the temperature today will be in the 90s, too, but they're still expecting a cool front to come through in the next couple of days so, hopefully, I will get a break on my usage.

At this time of the year in Dallas, every little bit helps.

May 29, 2012

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Today's reading is 2983, which means I used slightly more than 30 kWh since the last time I checked my meter.

That isn't surprising. Memorial Day in north Texas was toasty, and my air conditioning ran quite a bit, even though I kept it set around 80° — that's what will happen when the outside temperature is in the mid–90s.

More of the same is expected today and tomorrow, but the weather forecasters are sticking with their prediction that Thursday and Friday will see temperatures in the mid–80s (and, supposedly, Thursday night's low will be around 58°).

I hope so. I would like to see my electricity consumption drop for a couple of days before we plunge into the seemingly endless blisteringly hot days of summer.

May 28, 2012

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Today is Memorial Day, and, once again, the temperatures in the last 24 hours were on the warm side.

My meter reading this morning is 2951, which is better than I expected. Yesterday's reading was 2929, so my consumption was 22 kWh.

The outlook around here is for highs in the low 90s today, tomorrow and Wednesday (lows in the low 70s), then dropping into the 80s on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (lows in the upper 60s).

But Friday is the first day of June. I really can't see temperatures in north Texas retreating.

Stranger things have happened, I suppose.

May 27, 2012

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Today's reading is 2929.

That is slightly more than 30 kWh consumption since I took the photo of the meter yesterday.

The temperature got into the 90s yesterday and the humidity was fairly high, which means the air conditioning was running, so the reading didn't really surprise me.

Actually, I expect more of the same for the rest of the week. The forecasters are still saying that the temperatures will drop into the 80s at the end of the week (with lows in the 60s), but this is, after all, Texas, and the end of this week will be, after all, the beginning of June.

May 26, 2012

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Damn, I hate it when I'm right!

It was just the other day that I was talking about how the temperatures are on their annual upward trajectory, and it got into the 90s fairly early yesterday.

Anyway, today's meter reading appears to be 2898, which would translate to a 35 kWh consumption. That isn't quite as bad as it sounds. I mean, yesterday I didn't photograph my meter until around 9:30 or 10. Today, it was around 11:30. So we're actually talking about a little more than a 24–hour period.

But the days of single–digit kWh consumption (see my entries for April) are gone for at least four months — if not five or even six.

May 25, 2012

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Today's reading is between 2863 and 2864 — probably a little closer to 2863.

That means that my consumption in the last 24 hours was 25 kWh.

I consider that to be quite an accomplishment actually. It was in the 90s again yesterday, and it wasn't supposed to drop below 75° last night — and the weather forecasters tell us to expect more of the same for the next week — so I anticipated usage in the 30 kWh range or higher.

But I did everything I could to keep my consumption down until I went to bed — and then I had to set my thermostat lower because I simply cannot sleep if I am sweating.

Because of the forecast, I really expected my air conditioning to be running almost nonstop, but my efforts to keep consumption down seem to have paid off.

I doubt, though, that I will be able to keep it up until next Friday — which is the earliest that the forecasters say we will have daytime highs in the 80s again.

(As a veteran of many Dallas summers, though, it wouldn't surprise me if we don't have daytime highs in the 80s again until September or October.)

May 24, 2012

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It was a little overcast when I shot this picture, but the reading, in case you have trouble making it out, is 2838.

Yesterday's reading was 2807, which means I used 31 kWh in the last 24 hours.

Well, sort of.

You see, it was actually a bit more than 24 hours. I shot yesterday's picture quite early, about two hours earlier than I took it today.

A friend of mine had a mild stroke awhile back. He is out of the hospital now, but he has to return a few days a week for physical therapy, and he asked me to drive him to his physical therapy sessions. I took him there for the first time this morning so I waited until I had done that before I shot the picture.

I did expect my consumption to be up, though. It was quite warm yesterday, as it is expected to be for another week — probably longer, but extended forecasts only cover a week, at best, and, besides, forecasts really don't mean much around here.

I think we can expect hot weather around here for the next four or five months.

May 23, 2012

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Today's reading is 2807.

Yesterday's reading was 2782.

Thus, my usage in the last 24 hours has been 25 kWh. Still well under that 30 kWh/day average that the billing company has been using to calculate my bills.

I haven't received my latest utility bill. But I will soon.

And, when I do, I will post it here, as I have been doing.

You may be sure of that.

May 22, 2012

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Yesterday's meter reading was about 2755. Today's reading is 2782.

Based on that, I used 27 kWh in the last 24 hours.

Well, not quite.

If you look at the photo I took yesterday, the reading is actually between 2755 and 2756 — but it is closer to 2755 so that is the number I am using.

Anyway, the point is that it did get rather warm yesterday. Not as warm as it will be — and before long, I am afraid — but warmer than it tends to be around here in May.

Nevertheless, my consumption still was below that benchmark number of 30 kWh that the billing company has been using. In fact, since today is my 50th day of monitoring my meter, I thought it would be appropriate to calculate what my daily usage has been in that time period.

As a matter of fact, the reading 50 days ago today was 1982, which means I have used exactly 800 kWh in those 50 days. That comes out to 16 kWh, slightly more than half the average claimed by the billing company.

We'll find out soon if that benchmark consumption number that the billing company has been using changes. The next billing statement should arrive in about a week.

May 21, 2012

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I don't know what yesterday's high temperature was, but it was quite warm. It may have been the highest so far in 2012 (although I am equally certain that, if it was the highest temperature, it won't remain that way for long).

And I expected my electricity consumption to be the highest since I started tracking my meter readings seven weeks ago today.

So I was surprised to see that I didn't crack 30 kWh in the last 24 hours. This morning's reading is 2755. Yesterday's reading was 2727.

Obviously, my consumption was 28 kWh.

May 20, 2012

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There are hardly any clouds in the sky this morning so my picture came out sharp and clear.

This morning's reading is 2727. Yesterday's reading wasn't so easy to read in the picture — it was overcast, and I have learned, from doing this for the last seven weeks — that overcast conditions usually yield fuzzy, hard–to–read images. Such was the case with yesterday's photo. I eyeballed the meter, though, and it was 2707

But today's reading is clear for all to see.

May 19, 2012

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I apologize for the fuzzy quality of today's picture. It was cloudy when I took it.

But you should be able to see that the reading is 2707. Since yesterday's reading was 2685, that means my consumption in the last 24 hours has been 22 — not bad, considering that yesterday was about as warm as the day before, but my consumption was lower.

May 18, 2012

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I communicated with my apartment manager by e–mail yesterday, and she assured me everything had been straightened out.

As expected, it got rather warm around here yesterday, and my electric consumption reflected that, as you can see from today's photo.

This morning's reading is 2685. Yesterday's reading was 2659. That's 26 kWH.

It is worth pointing out that, since I started monitoring my meter on a daily basis nearly seven weeks ago, I have only used 30 kWH or more in a 24–hour period on a couple of occasions — when the weather got extreme.

To be sure, I expect the weather in Texas to become extreme in the summer. Sometimes, if we're lucky, it doesn't remain extreme for too long, and it settles back into just plain unpleasant. But most of the time, extreme temperatures are with us far too long.

So I'm sure I'll be using 30 kWh — or more — daily at some point in the near future.

But not yet.

And I would appreciate it if the utility billing company keeps that in mind.

But I expect another round of fiction with the next utility bill.

May 17, 2012

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Today's meter reading indicates that I used 21 kWh in the last 24 hours, which isn't surprising since it has been getting into the upper 80s lately and is expected to remain that way for the next week.

What did surprise me was the notice on my door when I went out this morning to take this photo.

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It advised me that I would be evicted if I did not pay an additional $58.59 for utilities.

I went in to the office on May 1 to pay my rent and to adjust the last two utility bills. I sat down with the apartment manager, who told me we could recalculate the amounts without waiting for the utility billing company to do so.

(Up to this point, I have declined to name that company in this blog. But, now, I see no reason not to. If anyone out there is reading this and your billing company is Minol, I advise you to follow what happens to me and consider it a cautionary tale.)

Anyway, I sat down with the manager, she recalculated what I owed, and I wrote checks for February and March. I won't know what I owe for April for a few weeks.

The last thing I said to the manager before I left the office was, "Is everything up to date now?"

She said it was.

May 16, 2012

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Today's meter reading is somewhere between 2638 and 2639, and yesterday's reading was 2622, which means my usage in the last 24 hours was 16–17 kWh.

If the outlook for the next seven days is correct, we can expect daytime highs around 86° and 87° with lows (after tonight) in the upper 60s or right at 70°.

I will continue to rely on my electric fans as much as I can for as long as I can.

May 15, 2012

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It got a little stuffy in my apartment late yesterday so I ran my A/C for a bit, and today's meter reading reflects that consumption.

Today's reading is 2622, which suggests that I used about 17 kWh in the last 24 hours.

In another month or so, that will sound pretty good.

Heck, in a few days it might sound pretty good.

May 14, 2012

Today's meter reading indicates that, once again, my electricity usage in the last 24 hours was around 10 Kwh.

The reading this morning is 2605. Yesterday's reading was 2594.

I have been enjoying these mild temperatures, in large part because I know they will save me money, but I also know that much hotter days are right around the corner.

However, in the meantime, I will do whatever I can do to keep my usage down. The forecast for the next couple of days looks pretty good, but then the outlook is for temperatures around 88° at the end of this week.

May 13, 2012

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I know the hot weather will be upon us before I know it.

We're nearly halfway through May, and this is Texas. When the hot weather gets here, it will stay here until at least October.

And it has already made some preliminary appearances around here. We've had more than one taste of what to expect.

I know it is coming. And I dread it.

But I am enjoying this cooler weather we have been experiencing for the last few days. My electricity consumption in the last 24 hours was once again 10 Kwh. This morning's reading is 2594, and yesterday's was around 2584.

May 12, 2012

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Today's meter reading appears to be between 2584 and 2585.

That means my consumption in the last 24 hours was about 10 Kwh, which really doesn't surprise me. Yesterday was quite mild, in the 70s, and there were scattered showers.

Much the same is expected today, and the temperatures aren't expected to rise above 80° until the middle of the week.

May 11, 2012

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I apologize for the quality of today's meter photo.

It's a bit overcast this morning — there is a 60% chance of rain today — which probably accounts for most of it.

In case you cannot read it too well, it is 2575, which means my consumption since yesterday morning was between 14 and 15 Kwh.

Yesterday's reading was between 2560 and 2561 — leaning more toward 2560.

May 10, 2012

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My consumption was up slightly in the last 24 hours.

Yesterday, I observed that my consumption dipped below double digits. Today, my consumption for the last 24 hours was about 13 Kwh.

The meter reading today, in case you have trouble reading it, is 2560.

I did run the air conditioning a little yesterday, and I used the oven to prepare my dinner — whereas I often use the microwave to heat something up. So perhaps that accounts for the increase.

May 9, 2012

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Today's meter picture is a little blurry. I'm not really sure why. It hasn't been overcast this morning, although it is a bit shadowy where my meter is located.

Anyway, the reading is 2547, which is less than 10 Kwh more than yesterday's. That's in line with what I expected. Yesterday was overcast and much cooler than it has been. I did not use my air conditioning at all.

More of the same is expected in the next few days so I'm hopeful that I can keep my consumption down.

May 8, 2012

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It is very overcast this morning. Forecasters say there is a 50–60% chance of rain today, and I believe that.

So I wasn't sure how today's meter photo would turn out — but it is more readable than I imagined.

And it shows that I used around 20 Kwh in the last 24 hours — which is rather surprising to me because the temperatures were in the upper 80s — if not the low 90s — around here.

They say it will be much cooler the rest of the week — mostly in the 70s during the day — so I am hopeful that consumption will stay down.

May 7, 2012

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Today's meter reading is 2517.

Yesterday's reading was between 2487 and 2488 so my consumption in the last 24 hours was roughly 30.

It was another warm day, and I more or less expected my consumption to be around that level.

But the forecast for this week calls for milder temperatures — around 86° today, 74° tomorrow, 78° on Wednesday, 81° on Thursday; 77° on Friday. Lows are expected to be in the 50s and 60s.

So I expect my consumption to drop this week.

But this is Texas. Who knows?

May 6, 2012

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Well, it finally happened.

I knew it would eventually.

My utility billing company has been claiming, for the last two months, that my daily energy use has averaged 30 Kwh.

But I've been monitoring my meter every day for more than a month, and my usage in every 24–hour period in that time has been below 30 Kwh.

Until yesterday.

We're in the midst of what qualifies as a heat wave in May — daytime highs in the 90s, heat indices approaching 100°, nighttime lows in the 70s.

The latest forecast I have seen indicates that temperatures will be more seasonable this week, but more of the same is expected today so I expect another 30–plus consumption day today.

Today's reading appears to be between 2487 and 2488. Since yesterday's reading was between 2451 and 2452, it is clear that I used more than 30 Kwh yesterday.

I'm probably not too far from the time when that will be a level to shoot for — and to be proud of when it is achieved — but not in March or April or May.

May 5, 2012

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Even though, apparently, it was in the 90s around here yesterday afternoon, this morning's meter reading suggests that my consumption in the last 24 hours was below my consumption for the previous 24 hours.

I say "apparently" because I spent about eight hours in the Richland College student newsroom yesterday. The students were putting the finishing touches on their final paper of the semester, and it took much longer than usual.

Consequently, I was away from home for the hottest part of the day, and I have no idea how frequently the air conditioning may have switched on. It was nearly 9 o'clock when I got home, and we had some rain showers while I was in the newsroom (I could tell from the residue on my vehicle), but I can only assume that it didn't get quite as warm for quite as long as forecasters were saying it would on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

That's Texas for you.

Anyway, today's reading indicates that I used 24 or 23 Kwh. Once again, the last digit is hard to read, but it appears to be 2452. Yesterday's reading was 2428 or 2429.

Still haven't cracked 30.

May 4, 2012

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It's hard for me to tell, but that last digit in today's meter reading appears to be between 8 and 9. The rest of it is pretty clear so that means this morning's reading is 2429 or 2428.

That means that yesterday's consumption probably was the highest it has been since I started monitoring my meter daily at the beginning of April.

And I expected that. It has been quite warm here in north Texas recently. It might cool down some next week, but, at best, that will be a temporary lull before we experience summer.

I live in a second–floor apartment so I expect my utility bills to go up at this time of year. But it still hasn't topped the 30 Kwh/day average the utility company was claiming on my estimated usage on my recent statements.

May 3, 2012

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The sun was sort of peeking out from behind some clouds when I took my picture this morning, and that usually means a fairly fuzzy photo.

Anyway, if you can't read it very well, this morning's reading is 2401. That is 23 Kwh that I consumed in the last 24 hours. Consumption is going up along with the daily temperatures, which is to be expected. The latest forecasts I have seen called for temperatures in the upper 80s and lower 90s, and that usually means it gets quite warm in my second–floor apartment during the day.

However, I have been monitoring my meter for more than a month now, and I still haven't used 30 Kwh in a single 24–hour period. Nevertheless, according to the utility billing company's estimates, I averaged 30 Kwh per day in February and March.

Ridiculous.

I deliberately adjusted my heat/air in my unit and opened the windows on many occasions with the specific intention of lowering my utility consumption. Combined with the mild temperatures we had in those months, it is impossible to believe I could have used that much energy.

May 2, 2012

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Today's meter reading is 2378, which means I used 22 Kwh in the last 24 hours.

Also in the last 24 hours, I went to the office and Deborah, the manager, adjusted my last two utility bills based on the information I have accumulated in the last month. I settled up with her on utilities and paid the rent. I confirmed with her that I am now caught up on my obligations to the landlord's office.

But I am going to continue to monitor my meter because, as I have written here before, the utility company has been using estimated figures to calculate my utility bill. I don't object to paying for what I actually use, but I will be damned if I am going to pay for an estimate when I know that my actual consumption was much lower.

May 1, 2012

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My meter reading today is 2356, which indicates that I used 23 Kwh in the last 24 hours.

I have been monitoring my meter daily since April 2. In those 29 days, I have never used 30 Kwh (or more) in a single 24–hour period, yet the utility billing company has claimed that my average daily usage in both February and March (both of which were quite mild) was 30 Kwh.

My average daily use in the last 29 days has been 12.8 Kwh.

If you want to verify, I have posted every photo that I have taken in that time right here on this blog.