September 30, 2012

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I really must apologize for the quality of this morning's photo.

The rainy, overcast conditions have stayed with us, and I simply won't stand out in the rain any longer to try to get a better photo. If you can't read it (and, trust me, this is the best of a really large batch!), you'll just have to take my word for it.

The reading this morning is 6316. Yesterday's reading — in a photo that wasn't much better — was 6304.

September 29, 2012

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It is overcast and drizzly here today, which has diminished the quality of my photo.

It may be hard to read — it was hard as heck to shoot — but my reading this morning is 6304. Yesterday's reading was 6291 so I must assume that it was milder than expected yesterday. Forecasts expected a high of 89° or 90°, but I'm almost certain that would have yielded a higher rate of electricity consumption than 13 kWh.

When I left for the campus yesterday around 11:30 a.m., the temperature may have been about 80°, if it wasn't lower, and when I left the campus, the car radio reported a temperature of 82°.

Either it reached the anticipated high early in the day and then rapidly declined as the cool front moved in — or it fell short of the weatherman's expectations entirely.

I have only my suspicions.

September 28, 2012

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If the forecasters are right, temperatures will start to drop tonight.

Today, however, it will still be around 90°, like it was yesterday.

This morning's reading was roughly 6291. Yesterday's reading was between 6969 and 6970.

September 27, 2012

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If the forecasters are correct, we may be on the verge of our deliverance from the 90°–plus days.

Not today, though. We're still expected to crack the 90s today — and, perhaps, tomorrow. But by Saturday, a stretch of 80°–range days should be with us, bringing a significant chance for rain, too.

My daily electricity consumption has been consistent this week, right around 20 kWh or so. Yesterday's meter reading was 6249. Today's appears to be between 6269 and 6270.

September 26, 2012

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I apologize for the quality of the meter photo this morning. We have overcast conditions in Dallas this morning, and that always affects the quality of the photo.

But my meter reading appears to be 6249 this morning. Yesterday's reading was 6228 so my usage was just barely over 20 kWh in the last 24 hours — even though it got quite warm here yesterday afternoon.

The forecasts call for highs in the 90s today and tomorrow, then dropping into the 80s by Friday.

I'm tempted to say that we are witnessing the last gasps of summer 2012, but I've lived in Texas long enough to know that conditions here can change in the blink of an eye.

For now, I will be happy if the forecasts for this weekend turn out to be accurate.

September 25, 2012

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Hot days in Dallas seem to take on a certain sameness. Yesterday was a lot like the day before — and, probably, like today and tomorrow will be.

The latest forecasts say we'll stay in the 90s — albeit the low 90s — until Friday, then it's supposed to drop into the low 80s as September gives way to October.

Friday is the day that the State Fair begins here in Dallas, and, as every college football fan could tell you, will include the annual OU–Texas football game.

I hope the weather will be nice for the game.

It looks to me like my electricity consumption dropped a little yesterday. My meter reading yesterday was between 6206 and 6207. This morning's reading is 6228.

September 24, 2012

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The temperature was well into the 90s yesterday, as predicted.

And my electricity consumption was up, too — into the mid–20s.

Yesterday's meter reading was between 6182 and 6183. This morning&pos;s reading is between 6206 and 6207.

September 23, 2012

Yesterday was Saturday, and I spent much of it watching college football on TV.

But I know it got hot. I went outside for awhile, and the temperature was clearly in the 90s.

Even so, I managed to keep my electricity consumption below 20 kWh in the last 24 hours.

Yesterday's meter reading was 6165. This morning's reading is between 6182 and 6183.

September 22, 2012

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As predicted, temperatures rose into the 90s yesterday, and forecasts call for more of the same for the next week.

I was away from home most of the afternoon, and I set my thermostat on a high setting before I left so I managed to keep my electricity consumption under control — relatively.

Yesterday's reading was 6147. Today's reading is 6165.

September 21, 2012

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I don't know what yesterday's high temperature was. I only know it got warm.

And it is expected to remain warm through the next week — with highs in the 90s most days. Not exactly my idea of the first week of fall.

But my electricity consumption didn't get out of the teens. Yesterday's meter reading was 6133. Today's reading is 6147.

September 20, 2012

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It sure has been pleasant around here lately. Weatherwise, that is.

I fear that will change, at least temporarily. The latest forecasts I have seen say the daily highs for the next three days will be in the 90s, then we're in for a couple of days in the 80s, and then back into the 90s.

But, as I often say, anything can happen in Texas. In my experience, beyond the immediate day or two, forecasts tend to be based mostly on historical averages. And 2012 has been far from typical for Texas in many ways.

Anyway, my electricity consumption remained in single digits for a second straight day.

Yesterday's meter reading was 6124. Today's is 6133.

September 19, 2012

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Yesterday's temperature didn't go above 80°. At least, I don't think it did.

But what I do know is that my electric meter clearly shows my consumption was in single digits again in the last 24 hours.

Yesterday's meter reading was 6115. This morning's reading is 6124.

September 18, 2012

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Yesterday was another mostly overcast day, but it was a little warmer, I think.

However, my electricity consumption went down a little.

Yesterday's meter reading was 6103. This morning's reading is 6115.

September 17, 2012

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Yesterday was another overcast day — with the added feature of a drizzly rain that lasted most of the day.

Temperatures remained low, and my electricity consumption was about the same yesterday as it was the day before.

Yesterday's meter reading was 6090. This morning's meter reading is 6103.

September 16, 2012

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This is the third straight day that it has been overcast in the morning — actually, it has been raining lightly this morning.

That always makes the meter photo difficult to read, but that's OK with me. The temperatures have been down, both at night and during the day, and my electricity consumption has been dropping.

Well, actually, this morning's meter reading indicates that my consumption in the last 24 hours was a little higher than the 24–hour period prior to that, but I guess it would have to be. It was a little warmer yesterday than it was the day before so I wasn't able to keep my consumption in single digits, as I did on Friday.

Yesterday's meter reading was 6077. Today's reading is 6090.

September 15, 2012

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Once again, I must apologize for the quality of the photo.

It is still overcast here, and that always affects the quality of the picture.

It also affects the weather conditions — and, although I spent much of yesterday on the Richland campus (and most of that was spent indoors), my understanding is that the temperature may not have cracked 70°.

If that is indeed the case, it would explain why my electricity consumption in the last 24 hours was so low.

Yesterday's meter reading was 6069. This morning's reading is 6077. Consequently, my usage was in single digits, probably for the first time since April.

September 14, 2012

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The temperatures are dropping, as predicted, and so, too, is my electricity consumption.

However, it is quite overcast this morning, and I apologize for the difficulty in seeing this morning's meter photo.

Yesterday's reading was 6055. While you may not be able to see it very well, this morning's reading is 6069, which means my use in the last 24 hours was 14 kWh.

I hope for more of the same in the next several days.

September 13, 2012

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When I am on campus, I guess I really am oblivious to whatever may be going on elsewhere.

Anyway, I have been clueless as to how hot it has been outside this week. I've been in the newsroom every afternoon.

But I left around 4 yesterday afternoon, and it was warm — although not exactly what I would call hot, at least not by Texas standards.

Well, this morning's meter reading suggests my air conditioning must have run more yesterday than it did the day before.

Yesterday's reading was 6032, and that reflected electricity consumption of 15 kWh in the previous 24 hours. Today's reading is 6055, which suggests my usage in the most recent 24–hour period was 23.

The good news, though, is that the forecast for the next week indicates daytime highs will stay in the 80s and lows will be in the 60s.

September 12, 2012

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I spent much of the day inside on the Richland campus yesterday, and I really don't what the high temperature was.

But my electricity consumption went down.

Yesterday's meter reading was 6017. Today's reading is 6032. That's 15 kWh, down by 5 from the day before.

And the weather forecast now suggests that we'll be dropping below 90° tomorrow. Previously, the forecast didn't call for that until Friday.

September 11, 2012

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Yesterday's temperature apparently got into the mid–90s, which would account for a slight increase in kWh usage.

Yesterday's meter reading was 5997. This morning's reading is 6017, which means my consumption was right at 20 kWh — a little higher than it has been but, frankly, much lower than I would have expected under typical early September conditions in north Texas.

September 10, 2012

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The cool front remains with us.

It isn't quite as cool as it was when it got here. Temperatures were in the upper 80s yesterday, and the forecast calls for low 90s today through Thursday, but nighttime lows are supposed to remain mostly in the 60s — and then daytime highs in the 80s are predicted to return for the weekend.

For the second straight day, I kept my electricity usage below 20 kWh. Yesterday's meter reading was 5978. This morning's reading is 5997.

September 9, 2012

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I'm seeing some dividends from the cool front that arrived in the area about 30 hours ago.

Yesterday's meter reading was between 5961 and 5962. This morning's reading is 5978 — which means my consumption in the last 24 hours was below 20 kWh.

I don't if I can stay below that level in the days ahead or not. Yesterday's forecast was for temperatures around 85°. In the week ahead, the forecast calls for steadily rising daily temperatures, mostly in the low 90s.

The nighttime lows are supposed to be in the 60s, but, when I got up this morning, the temperature was 58°.

Undoubtedly, that helped.

September 8, 2012

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Well, the cool front has arrived — as expected.

The temperature was in the 60s when I got up this morning, and the forecasts call for highs in the mid–80s today.

The cold front hadn't quite arrived when I went to bed last night, but it may have arrived early enough in the evening to help suppress my electricity consumption a bit overnight.

Yesterday apparently was every bit as hot as it was expected to be, but I spent the afternoon in the Richland newsroom so I have no real firsthand knowledge. I only know it was very hot when I left about an hour before sunset.

The cool front might have come through around midnight, which would have helped keep the temperature down.

I don't know. I was asleep by midnight — and I actually had a fairly restful night.

Anyway, my usage was under 30 kWh. Yesterday's meter reading was between 5935 and 5936. This morning's reading was between 5961 and 5962.

September 7, 2012

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Within the next 24 hours, a cool front is expected to move through the area, lowering temperatures by as much as 20 degrees.

I don't know if that will actually happen, but I hope so.

In the interim, though, we still must get through another triple–digit day today. I've heard forecasts that today't high will be in the 105° range, which apparently would set a new record for this date.

I managed to keep my electricity consumption around 30 kWh in the last 24 hours. Yesterday's meter reading was 5906. Today's reading is between 5935 and 5936.

September 6, 2012

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We still have to get through today and tomorrow (highs both days are expected to exceed 100°), but cooler weather is on the horizon.

I do not know what yesterday's high temperature was, but, like every other day this week, it was in triple digits.

I was away from home most of the afternoon, though, so that helped keep my electricity consumption down.

Yesterday's meter reading was 5873. This morning's reading is 5906. Consequently, I was back in the 30–plus range with 33 kWh in consumption.

September 5, 2012

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I spent most of yesterday on campus — and inside — so I have no firsthand knowledge of how hot it was.

The sun had gone down when I got in my vehicle to come home — but my vehicle was toasty. My apartment is about four miles from the campus, but I felt absolutely dehydrated when I got home.

I'm sure the temperature exceeded 100°.

Nevertheless, my utility consumption went down yesterday, presumably because I wasn't around to adjust the thermostat.

Yesterday's meter reading was 5848. This morning's reading is 5873. Thus, my usage was 25 kWh.

September 4, 2012

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I spent most of Labor Day indoors, but I know it got hot yesterday.

I checked NOAA's website around 3 in the afternoon, and the temperature was in triple digits.

More of the same is expected through Friday, but then a cool front is anticipated that will bring temperatures into the 80s.

Yesterday's meter reading was 5816. This morning's reading is 5848. That means my consumption in the last 24 hours was 32 kWh — better than the day before but not as low as I want to be.

September 3, 2012

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My electricity consumption continues to rise as north Texas is forced to contend with a late August/early September heat wave.

But there may be hope on the horizon.

Daily temperatures around 100° are expected through Friday — but then, on Friday night, a cool front is expected, bringing daytime highs in the 80s and nighttime lows in the 60s.

Yesterday's meter reading was 5779. This morning's reading is 5816. My use yesterday was 37 kWh.

September 2, 2012

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More of the same. Not really much to say.

Yesterday's meter reading was 5745. This morning's reading is 5779. My usage in the last 24 hours was 34 kWh.

The forecast calls for triple digits at least until Saturday.

September 1, 2012

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Once again, I was in the Richland newsroom most of the afternoon so I don't know authoritatively how hot it was.

But I heard the temperature went over 100° — and I know it was still quite hot when I left the newsroom so I have no reason to doubt it.

And my electricity usage reflects it. Yesterday's reading was 5712, which translated to consumption of about 32 kWh. Today's reading is 5745, which means my consumption in the last 24 hours was 33 kWh.

More of the same is expected for at least another week. The Labor Day forecast is loaded with triple–digit temperatures.