January 31, 2014

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I don't think there has been a lot of variation in the temperature in the last 24 hours.

It was in the 40s yesterday morning, but then it warmed up into the 50s in the afternoon, and I think it stayed in that general range the rest of the day and into the night. When I got up this morning, the temperature was 56°.

Anyway, this morning's meter reading is 14417. Yesterday's reading was between 14407 and 14408 so my consumption in the last 24 hours was 9½ kWh. That's a drop of nearly 80%, but it is about 36% higher than this date in 2013.

January 30, 2014

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Yesterday was warmer than the day before — as predicted. I don't know the actual high, but my guess would be upper 40s.

It wasn't as cold last night as it has been, either. The forecast called for lows just under freezing, and I assume that was what we got. The temperature was around 30° when I got up this morning.

This morning's meter reading is between 14407 and 14408. Yesterday's reading was 14361. My consumption in the last 24 hours was 46½ kWh. That is a drop of nearly 22% compared to the previous 24 hours, but it is more than six times my consumption on this date in 2013.

January 29, 2014

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Yesterday was another cold day followed by another cold night.

I don't know what yesterday's high was, but, like Monday, I expect it was in the 30s. They say it will be warmer today — mid–40s — followed by 60s on Thursday and 70s on Friday.

Last night's low was supposed to be around 21°. I don't if that came to pass, but I do know it got really cold so it wouldn't surprise me. It might even have dropped into the teens.

This morning's meter reading is 14361. Yesterday's reading was between 14301 and 14302 so my consumption was 59½ kWh. That's about 21% higher than my rate of consumption in the previous 24 hours, and it is more than eight times my consumption on this date a year ago.

The forecast calls for increasingly warm temperatures. Today's high is supposed to be around 47°, and tonight's low is supposed to be 31°. The outlook through the weekend looks much better than what we have had lately.

January 28, 2014

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Well, as predicted, the temperature was much colder yesterday — and there was a strong wind that made it feel even colder.

It probably didn't get to 40° yesterday, and it was already working its way toward the freezing mark before the sun went down.

Last night and tonight were predicted to be in the low 20s. All I know is it sure got cold last night. Well, I also know it was 23° when I got up this morning.

This morning's meter reading is between 14301 and 14302. Yesterday's reading was between 14252 and 14253 so my consumption in the last 24 hours was 49 kWh — about five times more than my consumption in the previous 24 hours and seven times my consumption of a year ago.

January 27, 2014

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Yesterday was quite pleasant. The temperature soared past 70° early in the afternoon, and I think it reached its peak at about 73° or 74°.

The forecast called for a return of cold weather overnight, followed by declining temperatures during the day today. I guess it did get cold during the night — it was 37° when I got up this morning — but my sensation is that it didn't drop into the 30s until nearly daybreak.

This morning's meter reading is between 14252 and 14253. Yesterday's reading was between 14244 and 14245. Thus, my consumption in the last 24 hours was a mere 8 kWh. That is nearly 45% lower than my consumption in the previous 24 hours, but it is 33% higher than my consumption on this date in 2013.

January 26, 2014

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The forecast called for a high of 64° yesterday. It was actually two degrees warmer than that.

Today's forecast calls for a high of 67°. If the same thing happens today, we could be flirting with 70° — about 60 hours after the temperature dropped into the teens.

This springlike respite will be short–lived, I fear. The forecast calls for mostly 30s and 40s this week — probably warming into the 60s by the weekend.

This morning's meter reading is between 14244 and 14245. Yesterday's reading was 14230 so my consumption in the last 24 hours was 14½ kWh. That is a drop of more than 58% compared to the previous 24 hours, but it is nearly three times my consumption on this date last year.

January 25, 2014

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Yesterday was cold, much like the day before, but it was not quite as cold. At least, that is what the forecasters expected. I was indoors most of the afternoon, advising the student newspaper so I can only say what it was like when I drove to the campus.

It was cold.

It was cold during the night, too. The forecasters predicted lows around freezing. That, apparently, was optimistic because the temperature when I got up this morning was 30°. Well, that beats the teens we had the night before.

This morning's meter reading is 14230. Yesterday's reading was 14195 so my consumption was 35 kWh. That's a drop of nearly 34% compared to the previous 24 hours, but, thanks to an unseasonably warm spell in this area, it is five times higher than my consumption on this date in 2013.

January 24, 2014

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Yesterday was as cold as the forecasters said it would be. The high was in the 30s, and last night's low was in the teens. I don't know how low it went, but the temperature when I got up this morning was 19°.

This morning's meter reading is 14195. Yesterday's reading was 14142 so consumption was 53 kWh. That is more than three times my consumption level in the previous 24 hours.

And it more than six times my consumption on this date in 2013.

January 23, 2014

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I don't think the temperature got as warm yesterday as forecasters expected. Forecasts called for a high in the low 60s, but I think it stayed in the 50s.

It got cold last night. I'm not quite sure how cold, just that it was cold, but I doubt it got as cold as the forecasters said it would (20s). When I got up this morning, the temperature was 40°.

I didn't really know what to expect when I checked my meter this morning, but I found that my consumption went down.

This morning's meter reading is 14142. Yesterday's reading was 14126. I used 16 kWh in the last 24 hours. That is 54% lower than the previous 24–hour period, but it is nearly double my consumption on this date in 2013.

January 22, 2014

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As expected, yesterday was much cooler. It probably didn't get out of the 50s. And it was much cooler overnight. When I got up this morning, the temperature was 33°.

They say the temperature will get up to 6° today, then the next two days will be bitterly cold, with lows in the 20s and highs in the 30s. We should be back in the 60s during the weekend.

Short term, I fully expected my electricity consumption to go up when I checked my meter this morning. And it did.

This morning's meter reading is 14126. Yesterday's reading was 14091. My consumption in the last 24 hours was 35 kWh. That is five times my consumption in the previous 24 hours, and it was more than four times my consumption on this date last year.

January 21, 2014

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Yesterday was nice and sunny — and the temperature reached 73° by 3 p.m.

That is exceptionally nice for January.

It turned cooler during the night. Forecasters said it would be in the mid–30s, but I really don't think it dropped below 40°. It was 43° when I got up this morning, and my electricity consumption in the last 24 hours dropped into single digits.

This morning's meter reading is 14091. Yesterday's reading was 14084 so my consumption was 7 kWh. That's a drop of more than 46% compared to the previous 24 hours, and it is more than 26% lower than my consumption on this date in 2013.

If the forecasts for the rest of the week are accurate, I can expect consumption to go up — a lot — before the weekend arrives, bringing warmer temperatures.

January 20, 2014

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Sunday was another sunny and mild day with a high in the upper 60s. The forecast says it will be warmer today (low 70s) before temperatures get cooler.

When I got up this morning, the temperature was 41°. If the heat came on last night, it was briefly. Considering that my electricity consumption went up a little, I'm inclined to think the heat did come on for awhile. I'm quite sure it will run more this week than it has lately.

This morning's meter reading is 14084. Yesterday's reading was 14071 so consumption was 13 kWh, an increase of about 18% compared to the previous 24 hours and nearly 37% higher than this date in 2013.

January 19, 2014

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The temperature got into the upper 60s yesterday, and more of the same is expected today.

The forecast called for lows in the 30s, and that forecast appears to have been fulfilled. The temperature was 35° when I got up this morning, and I didn't know what to expect when I read my meter. Nevertheless, my consumption went down.

This morning's meter reading is 14071. Yesterday's reading was 14060 so my consumption in the last 24 hours has been 11 kWh. That is half of my consumption for the previous 24 hours, but, because the area was enjoying even milder temperatures a year ago, it is 59% higher than my consumption on this date in 2013.

January 18, 2014

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It was cooler yesterday than it has been recently — mid– in the upper 50s. They say it will be about 10 degrees warmer than that today and tomorrow.

Last night was supposed to be in the upper 30s. I imagine it got there. It was 40° when I got up this morning.

My electricity consumption went up. This morning's meter reading is 14060. Yesterday's reading was 14038 so consumption was 22 kWh. That is more than double my consumption in the previous 24 hours, and it is about 76% higher than it was on this date in 2013.

January 17, 2014

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We had convocation at school yesterday, and I spent the entire afternoon in the newsroom, then participating in the evening's activities. I was inside for more than nine hours so I don't really know how warm it got, but the forecast called for a high in the 60s.

It is supposed to be cooler today, with a high in the 50s.

Last night's low was supposed to be in the upper 30s, but when I got up this morning, it was 47°. Tonight's low is expected to be in the mid–30s, then the forecast calls for 40s tomorrow night and Sunday night.

Bottom line, my electricity consumption did go down in the last 24 hours. Quite a bit, actually.

This morning's meter reading is 14038. Yesterday's reading was 14029 so consumption was 9 kWh, which is a drop of nearly 63% compared to the previous 24 hours, and it is more than 78% lower than my consumption on this date a year ago.

January 16, 2014

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The temperature was cooler yesterday. It stayed in the upper 50s in the afternoon, then it was supposed to dip into the 30s last night.

It may well have been that cold last night. It was 42° when I got up this morning.

This morning's meter reading is 14029. Yesterday's reading was 14005 so consumption in the last 24 hours was 24 kWh. That is more than double my consumption in the previous 24 hours, when the daytime high was in the 60s (as it is expected to be today), but it is nearly 61% lower than it was on this date last year.

January 15, 2014

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Yesterday's high was probably in the low to mid–60s. The low was expected to be a few degrees above freezing.

As usual, I have no idea whether it dropped that low during the night, but I do know that the temperature was 35° when I got up this morning so it may well have dropped that low.

This morning's meter reading is 14005. Yesterday's reading was between 13994 and 13995. My consumption in the last 24 hours was 10½ kWh, a 9% drop from the previous 24 hours. I don't know why my consumption went down. One of the many computer mysteries, I suppose.

It went down more than 77% compared to this date last year. Of course, that is pretty easy to explain. It was about 20 degrees cooler a year ago.

January 14, 2014

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It wasn't quite as warm yesterday as it was the day before, but it was still in the 60s most of the day, and it remained warm into the evening.

Last night's low was supposed to be in the upper 30s. I don't know if it got quite that cold. It was 41° when I got up this morning.

I guess the heat must have come on a time or two last night because my electricity consumption was in double digits again — barely.

This morning's meter reading is between 13994 and 13995. Yesterday's reading was 13983 so my consumption was 11½ kWh. That is an increase of nearly 28% compared to the previous 24 hours.

But, thanks to a cold snap that had the area in its grip on this date last year, my consumption is down nearly 80% compared to 2013.

January 13, 2014

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Yesterday was warm and sunny. The high was in the mid–70s, although a bit windy, and last night's low was predicted to be in the mid–40s.

I don't know if it got that cold last night. When I got up this morning, the temperature was 52°. I expected my electricity consumption to be back in single digits today.

And I was right — but just barely.

This morning's meter reading is 13983. Yesterday's reading was 13974 so consumption in the last 24 hours was 9 kWh. That's a 25% drop compared to the previous 24 hours — and it is 70% less than this date last year.

January 12, 2014

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The high yesterday was almost 70°. It only missed by a couple of degrees. Today is supposed to be even warmer. The forecast calls for 72°.

Last night's low was supposed to be in the low 40s. Maybe it got that low at some point during the night, but, when I got up this morning, the thermometer said 49°.

Consequently, I was amazed that my electricity consumption went up. Perhaps that was because I was home most of the day, watching the NFL playoffs and dabbling on my computer.

This morning's meter reading is 13974. Yesterday's reading was 13962 so consumption in the last 24 hours has been 12 kWh. That is actually double my consumption in the previous 24–hour period — and 71% higher than my consumption on this date last year.

January 11, 2014

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I was inside most of the afternoon yesterday so I don't know how warm it got, but my guess is that it was upper 50s or low 60s, as had been predicted.

Last night's low was supposed to be around 40°. When I got up, it was actually a little lower than that — 39°.

This morning's meter reading is 13962. Yesterday's reading was 13956 so my consumption was in single digits for the first time in I don't know how long. That is a drop of more than 55% from the previous 24 hours, and it is nearly 37% lower than my consumption on this date a year ago.

January 10, 2014

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Yesterday was kind of gray and gloomy — with patchy fog that lasted all day — but it was a little warmer than it has been, and it didn't really get much colder overnight.

My electricity consumption continues to drop, and I expect the trend to continue for a few more days at least.

When I got up this morning, the temperature was 59° — no kidding. And today's high is supposed to be in the upper 60s.

The weekend forecast calls for highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s.

This morning's meter reading is 13956. Yesterday's reading was between 13942 and 13943. Consumption in the last 24 hours was 13½ kWh. That's a drop of 42% from the previous 24 hours.

But, because early January was unseasonably warm last year, it is still nearly 69% higher than this date in 2013.

January 9, 2014

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I think yesterday's temperature was about the same as it was the day before, but it was gray and wet, which made it feel colder than it actually was.

This morning's meter reading is between 13942 and 13943. Yesterday's reading was 13919 so consumption was 23½ kWh. That is roughly a 19% drop in 24 hours, but it is more than double my consumption on this date in 2013.

January 8, 2014

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The extreme cold seems to be easing itself out of the area.

It is still cold around here, but it isn't quite as cold. Last night was probably 20 degrees warmer than it has been, and warmer nights are in the forecast later this week.

The daytime high was milder yesterday, too, and it's expected to be milder still later this week.

This morning's meter reading is 13919. Yesterday's reading was 13890 so consumption was 29 kWh. That's a drop of more than 58% compared to the previous 24 hours, but it is about double my consumption on this date a year ago.

January 7, 2014

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They say the cold snap we're experiencing is the worst to strike America in a couple of decades.

I know it is the worst I have seen in many years.

Here in Dallas, we've had lows in the teens the last couple of nights, and the highs on Sunday and Monday were colder than usual around here.

Today's temperature (and tomorrow's as well) should be in the upper 40s, then 50s are expected on Thursday — followed by 60s this weekend and into next week. So it looks like our experience with the extreme cold will be brief — much briefer than for those north of us.

But the last 24 hours took their toll on my electricity consumption. It was even higher today than it was yesterday — but only by 3% this time.

Today's meter reading is 13890. Yesterday's reading was between 13820 and 13821. My consumption was 69½ kWh.

That's more than three times as much electricity as I consumed on this date in 2013.

January 6, 2014

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The cold front that came through night before last held the area in its icy grip yesterday.

The temperature did warm into the mid–30s in the afternoon, but last night's low was expected to be in the teens. Clearly, it made it. The temperature was 16° when I got up this morning.

Just keeping my apartment minimally warm uses ungodly amounts of electricity.

This morning's meter reading is between 13820 and 13821. Yesterday's reading was 13753. My consumption in the last 24 hours has been 67½ kWh. That must be a record in the nearly two years that I have been doing this. That is more than four times my usage in the previous 24 hours.

And it is nearly three times my usage on this date in 2013.

January 5, 2014

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I'm going to wish for more yesterdays a lot this week, I think.

The temperature got close to 70° yesterday afternoon. It was windy, but it was pleasant.

Overnight, the temperature plummeted to around 30°, if not lower. It should be much lower than that over the next few nights, and forecasters aren't even talking about temps of 50° during the day until Wednesday at the earliest.

In the interim, we've been told to expect highs in the 30s and lows in the teens. Could be worse, as Marty Feldman said in "Young Frankenstein." Could be raining.

Or I could be in Green Bay today, where the wind chill is expected to be around –50.

This morning's meter reading is 13753. Yesterday's reading was between 13737 and 13738 so my consumption in the last 24 hours was 15½ kWh (my guess, based on the forecast, is that it will be about three times that for the next few days).

That's nearly 47% lower than my consumption in the previous 24 hours, and it is 35% lower than my consumption on this date last year.

January 4, 2014

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Yesterday was a bit warmer. Temperature probably got into the low 50s by mid– to late afternoon. It was a little warmer last night, too — upper 30s perhaps.

Today is supposed to be in the 60s, then the cold weather returns with a vengeance — and my apartment has no hot water.

This morning's meter reading is between 13737 and 13738. Yesterday's reading was between 13708 and 13709 so consumption was 29 kWh. That's a drop of nearly 41% in the last 24 hours, but it is nearly 7% higher than this date in 2013.

January 3, 2014

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Yesterday was much colder than the day before. The daytime high might have reached the mid–40s briefly, and it has been in the 20s the last couple of nights.

A modest warming is expected today and tomorrow, then it's supposed to get really cold around here — 30s during the day, low 20s at night.

Consumption has gone up considerably in the last 24 hours.

This morning's meter reading is between 13708 and 13709. Yesterday's reading was 13658. That means my consumption was 50½ kWh. That's more than double my consumption of 24 hours ago, but, because conditions a year ago were nearly the same, it is only about a 5% increase over this date in 2013.

January 2, 2014

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Yesterday's temperature made it all the way to 70° — but then it dipped into the 20s last night, and much colder temperatures appear to be in our immediate future.

This morning's meter reading is 13658. Yesterday's reading was between 13636 and 13637 so my consumption in the last 24 hours was 21½ kWh. That is a drop of nearly 46% compared to the previous 24 hours, and it is 53% lower than this date last year.

It will be worse in the next few days, though. I'm bracing myself for higher electricity consumption.

January 1, 2014

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The last day of the year was mild — not quite warm, not quite cold. The temperature was probably in the mid–50s, and last night's low was in the 30s.

This morning's meter reading was between 13636 and 13637. Yesterday's reading was 13597 so consumption was 39½ kWh. That's a drop of nearly 6% in the last 24 hours.

But it is more than 50% higher than my consumption on this day a year ago.