This Month's Bill

Later today, I will be paying my rent.

I received my latest statement last weekend. Consumption in the apartment complex went down overall in April, but, as my entries here amply demonstrate, my consumption went down nearly two–thirds, while, because of the allocated billing we now are on, my utility bill went down about 13%.

My consumption has remained at about the same level this month, but I have noticed many air conditioning units running so I expect that, although my personal consumption has stayed low, I will be billed more next month.

I emailed the manager about this. Here was his reply:

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"Unfortunately while you and I may not agree it's the best form of billing it is the form of billing that corporate has chosen for this property and is completely legal with the Texas Utility Commission and State Laws."

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I told him that I will continue to monitor my usage and point out the discrepancies.

May 31, 2014

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Yesterday's high was in the upper 80s, and last night's low was around 70°.

So far, I have not used my air conditioning, but the forecast for the coming week tells me that won't last much longer. Daytime highs are expected to be in the 90s most of the time.

This morning's meter reading is 16149. Yesterday's reading was 16141 so my consumption was 8 kWh in the last 24 hours, an increase of not quite 7% compared to the previous 24 hours. It is about 58% lower than my consumption on this date last year.

My 30, 2014

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Yesterday was warmer than it has been with temperatures in the upper 80s. Astonishingly, though, my electricity consumption appears to have been unaffected. (I still haven't run my air conditioning in 2014, but I expect that to change soon. The forecast is calling for highs in the 90s on Monday and Tuesday.)

The chance for rain diminishes daily. By the end of the weekend, it should be out of the forecast entirely.

Last night's low was expected to be between 68° and 70°. The temperature when I got up was 69°.

This morning's meter reading is 16141. Yesterday's reading was between 16133 and 16134. Thus, my consumption in the last 24 hours was 7½ kWh, precisely the same as it was in the previous 24 hours — and it is nearly 32% lower than my consumption on this date in 2013.

May 29, 2014

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Once again, the skies were overcast, and the temperature was in the low 80s at its warmest yesterday — but mostly, I think, the temperature was in the 70s.

Last night's low was expected to be 66°. It was 68° when I got up.

This morning's meter reading is between 16133 and 16134. Yesterday's reading was 16126. Consumption in the last 24 hours was 7½ kWh. That's a drop of about 6% compared to the previous 24 hours, and it is more than 42% lower than my consumption on this date in 2013.

May 28, 2014

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The mild weather continued yesterday. It may have reached 80° at some point, but it was mostly cloudy during the day.

We even got some rain at times. It never lasted very long, but it kept the temperature down.

Last night's low was supposed to be 66°. It was 67° when I got up this morning.

This morning's meter reading is 16126. Yesterday's reading was 16118. My consumption in the last 24 hours was 8 kWh, which is nearly 7% higher than my consumption in the previous 24 hours — but it is half of my consumption level on this day in 2013.

May 27, 2014

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The sky stayed overcast most of the day. We even had some rain, and the temperature barely made it to 80°.

The low last night was expected to be around 68°; the temperature was 66° when I got up.

Rain is likely today, then the chance starts to ease off for the rest of the week.

This morning's meter reading is 16118. Yesterday's reading was between 16110 and 16111 so my consumption in the last 24 hours was 7½ kWh. That is about 6% lower than my consumption in the previous 24 hours, and it is nearly 52% lower than my consumption on this date last year.

May 26, 2014

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Yesterday started out like all the other days we have had recently. It was cloudy in the morning, then the sun came out in the afternoon and it warmed into the mid–80s — but its stay there was brief, the clouds returned, even brought some rain, and the temperature dropped into the 70s.

I don't know how cool it was overnight, but the temperature was 75° when I got up this morning.

It is still overcast this morning, and the forecasters say there is a 40% chance of heavy rain after 2 p.m. There is at least a slight chance of rain every day and every night this week. At some points, the chance is considerably higher.

This morning's meter reading is between 16110 and 16111. Yesterday's reading was between 16102 and 16103. Thus, my consumption in the last 24 hours was 8 kWh. That is nearly 16% lower than my consumption in the previous 24 hours, and it is more than 30% lower than my consumption on this date last year.

May 25, 2014

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It was warm yesterday — and not quite as overcast as it has been in the mornings — and the temperature was in the mid–80s.

Rain is back in the forecast, mostly on Tuesday (60% chance currently), but cloudy conditions are expected all week.

Last night's low was supposed to be in the upper 60s or low 70s. It was 74° when I got up.

This morning's meter reading is between 16102 and 16103. Yesterday's reading was 16093. My consumption in the last 24 hours was 9½ kWh. That is an increase of nearly 19%, but my consumption went down 32% compared to my usage on this date last year.

May 24, 2014

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The weather was very pleasant yesterday. I had heard forecasts for highs in the upper 80s, but it was mostly overcast all day and I don't think the temperature was ever any higher than 82° or 83°.

Last night's low was supposed to be in the low 70s. It was 73° when I got up this morning.

This morning's meter reading is 16093. Yesterday's reading was 16085. Consumption was 8 kWh in the last 24 hours, which means I am back in single–digit territory. Consumption went down 20% in the last 24 hours, and it is more than 48% lower than this date in 2013.

May 23, 2014

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The weather conditions were mostly the same yesterday as they have been for weeks now.

Yesterday morning wasn't quite as cool as the day before, and it warmed into the upper 80s before the temperatures began to drop.

It was 72° when I got up so I suspect that we'll see another warm day before the sun goes down.

This morning's meter reading is 16085. Yesterday's reading was 16075 so consumption in the last 24 hours (10 kWh) was in double digits for only the second time in more than two months. Usage was nearly 43% higher than it was in the previous 24 hours (I'm really baffled how that happened), and it is 33% higher than my usage on this date in 2013.

May 22, 2014

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Yesterday started out cool and overcast, but, by midday, it was warm and sunny. It was windy all day, as it has been for the last few weeks.

The high temperature was in the upper 80s. The low was supposed to be 67°. It was 69° when I got up this morning.

Today's high is expected to be 86°. Currently, there is still a slight chance for rain Sunday through Tuesday.

This morning's meter reading is 16075. Yesterday's reading was 16068 so my consumption in the last 24 hours has been 7 kWh. That is about 12% lower than my consumption in the previous 24 hours, and it is 26% lower than my consumption on this date last year.

May 21, 2014

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Another warm and windy day yesterday. The temperature got as high as 87° or 88°, then the temperature was 70° when I got up this morning (last night's low was expected to be around 68°).

This morning's meter reading is roughly 16068. Yesterday's meter reading was 16060. That means my consumption in the last 24 hours was about 8 kWh. That is about 14% higher than my consumption in the previous 24 hours, but it is nearly 62% lower than my consumption on this date last year.

May 20, 2014

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Yesterday seemed like a carbon copy of the day before.

The sky was mostly clear, it was windy, the temperature was around 85°, and there wasn't a hint of rain. Forecasts suggest today will be much the same. There is a slight chance for rain this weekend — but that could change.

Last night's low was expected to be 66°. It was 70° when I got up this morning.

This morning's meter reading is 16060. Yesterday's reading was 16053. That means my consumption in the last 24 hours was 7 kWh — 22% lower than my consumption in the previous 24 hours and 61% lower than my consumption on this date in 2013.

May 19, 2014

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The forecasters expected a high in the low 80s yesterday, but I know it got as warm as 84°, maybe 85°.

Last night's low was expected to be 64°. It was 66° when I got up this morning.

Still no rain in the forecast.

This morning's meter reading is 16053. Yesterday's reading was 16044. My consumption in the last 24 hours was 9 kWh. That is more than 28% higher than my consumption in the previous 24 hours, but it is roughly half of my consumption level on this date in 2013.

May 18, 2014

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Yesterday's temperatures were in the low 80s — around 82° or 83° — and last night's low was expected to be around 64° — which was the temperature when I got up.

Currently, there is no chance for rain in the next seven days.

This morning's meter reading is 16044. Yesterday's reading was 16037. My consumption in the last 24 hours was 7 kWh. That is nearly 17% higher than my consumption in the previous 24 hours, but it is nearly 55% lower than my consumption on this date in 2013.

May 17, 2014

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The temperature was back in the 80s yesterday. Today's high is supposed to be 83°.

Last night's low was supposed to drop just below 60°. When I got up this morning, the temperature was 61°.

This morning's meter reading is 16037. Yesterday's reading was 16031 so my consumption was 6 kWh. That's 20% lower than my consumption in the previous 24 hours — and it is nearly 37% lower than my consumption on this day in 2013.

May 16, 2014

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Yesterday was warmer than expected. Forecasts called for highs in the upper 70s, but NOAA reported a temperature of 81° in the midafternoon, and some meteorologists reported the temperature reaching 84° or 85°.

Last night's low was expected to be another cool one. NOAA called for a low of 55°. It was 57° when I woke up today.

This morning's meter reading is 16031. Yesterday's reading was between 16023 and 16024. My consumption in the last 24 hours was 7½ kWh, which is an increase of 25% compared to yesterday's consumption, but it is nearly 12% lower than my usage on this day in 2013.

May 15, 2014

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Yesterday was quite mild for this time of year. The highest temperature I saw was around 70°, but most of the readings I saw were in the 60s.

Last night's low was supposed to be in the upper 40s, but I don't think it got quite that cold. It was 54° when I got up.

Temperatures are expected to be in the upper 70s today, then we'll be back in the 80s. Since it is mid–May, I am trying to savor these cool days and nights because I know they'll be gone soon.

This morning's meter reading is between 16023 and 16024. Yesterday's reading was between 16017 and 16018. Thus, my consumption in the last 24 hours was 6 kWh, which is about 9% higher than the previous 24 hours but it is 29% lower than my consumption on this date last year.

May 14, 2014

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The cool front kept temperatures in the 60s yesterday, and the sky was overcast.

After the upper 80s and lower 90s we had last week, it almost felt like the first days of fall instead of the waning days of spring.

Last night's low was expected to be in the low 50s. I don't know if it got quite that cool. It was 54° when I got up.

I do know the cool temperatures brought my electricity consumption down.

This morning's meter reading is between 16017 and 16018. Yesterday's reading was 16012. Consumption in the last 24 hours was 5½ kWh. That is a drop of nearly 39% compared to the previous 24 hours, and it is nearly 27% lower than my usage on this date last year.

May 13, 2014

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It wasn't quite as warm yesterday as it has been, but it was very humid in the morning.

It stayed humid in the afternoon, and the sky grew dark. The temperature may have reached 80° late in the morning, but it cooled off rapidly in the afternoon. There was a 90% chance of rain in the afternoon, according to the forecasters, and an 80% chance last night (with an expected low of 55°). The rain started falling shortly before 4 p.m., and the temperature was in the 60s shortly thereafter.

Last night's low was expected to be in the mid–50s. It was 56° when I got up.

Today and tomorrow are supposed to be in the 60s. Tonight's low is expected to be in the low 50s; tomorrow night's low is expected to be 48°.

Things will start to warm up after that.

This morning's meter reading is 16012. Yesterday's reading was 16003. My consumption was 9 kWh in the last 24 hours. That is more than 12% higher than my consumption in the previous 24 hours. It is also more than 12% higher than my consumption on this date in 2013.

May 12, 2014

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If the forecasts are correct, temperatures will be lower this week than they were last week.

Yesterday was fairly typical of the weather we have had recently. The temperature was in the upper 80s at least. The heat index hit 90°, and, for all I know, the actual temperature did, too.

The forecast said last night's low would be in the mid–70s, around 73° or 74°. When I got up, it was 76°.

Rain is expected to come through the area this afternoon and tonight, bringing nighttime lows in the 50s and daytime highs in the 70s.

This morning's meter reading is 16003. Yesterday's reading was 15995 so my consumption in the last 24 hours was 8 kWh. That is 11% lower than my consumption in the previous 24 hours, and it is precisely the same as my consumption on this date in 2013.

May 11, 2014

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With the exception of the rain we had a couple of days ago, there has been a certain sameness to each day for the last couple of weeks.

Each day has been warm, nearing (or reaching/passing) 90°.

Typically, the daytime high has been 87°, which may have been the high temperature yesterday. It's the only reading I saw — around 3 p.m. — but it certainly could have been a degree or two higher.

The low was only supposed to be 70°, but I doubt it got that low. The temperature was 73° when I got up this morning.

I'm tempted to label this morning's meter reading a 'tweener, but it really seems a lot closer to 15995. Yesterday's reading was 15986. That means my consumption in the last 24 hours was about 9 kWh. That is nearly 64% higher than my consumption in the previous 24 hours, and it is 38% higher than my consumption on this date in 2013.

May 10, 2014

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The warm temperatures returned yesterday. I know it got up to around 87°, and it may have been a degree or two warmer.

Last night's low was expected to be 68°. It was 66° when I got up.

No rain yesterday. The skies were clear, and more of the same is expected today and into next week.

In fact, considering how warm it was, I expected an increase in my consumption. I haven't run the air conditioning yet, but that is still the pattern. But I was in for a surprise.

This morning's meter reading is 15986. Yesterday's reading was betweeb 15980 and 15981. My consumption was 5½ kWh, which is only a drop of about 8%, but it is still a drop, and it is more than 15% lower than my consumption on this date in 2013.

May 9, 2014

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Yesterday was a stormy day. They said it would reach 80° — but I am not certain that it reached 70°.

We had a lot of rain and some damaging winds. My vehicle and apartment avoided damage, but, apparently, Dad had some water damage in his living room.

Last night's low was expected to be in the upper 60s, but it may not have gotten quite that low. The temperature was 74° when I got up.

We resume the upper 80s through the weekend, but early next week is supposed to see temperatures in the upper 70s.

When I went to check my meter this morning, I expected to see that my consumption at least did not go up. In fact, it went down.

This morning's meter reading is between 15980 and 15981. Yesterday's reading was between 15974 and 15975. That means consumption in the last 24 hours was 6 kWh. That means my consumption went down more than 29% in the last 24 hours — and it is down by 33% compared to this date in 2013.

May 8, 2014

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It is overcast this morning, and the latest forecasts say there is an 80% chance of rain today and tonight. Temperatures should be cooler today than they have been.

I don't think the temperature was quite as warm as expected yesterday. Predictions called for mid– to upper 80s, but the last temperature I saw was 83°.

I don't if it got as cool as expected last night, either. The forecast called for a temperature in the upper 60s, but the temperature was 73° when I got up.

This morning's meter reading is between 15974 and 15975. Yesterday's reading was 15966 so my consumption was 8½ kWh. That's a slight drop (less than 6%) from what it was yesterday, and it is more than 21% higher than my consumption on this date last year.

May 7, 2014

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Yesterday was another warm day — perhaps not quite as warm as the day that preceded it and probably a degree or two warmer than today will be.

The temperature probably got into the upper 80s yesterday — and today's forecast calls for a high of 87°. There is a 70% chance of rain on Thursday, which is expected to give us our lowest daily high temperature of the week (around 80°), then the temperature will gradually rise through the weekend.

Last night's low was expected to be around 66° — roughly what the forecasters tell us we can expect for the next week. I don't know if it got quite that cool. It was 71° when I got up this morning.

This morning's meter reading is 15966. Yesterday's reading was 15957. Consumption was 9 kWh in the last 24 hours, an increase of more than 12% compared to the previous 24 hours — and more than 38% higher than this date in 2013.

May 6, 2014

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Yesterday's temperature was in the low 90s. I managed to avoid switching on the A/C, but I won't be able to do that for long.

Last night't low was supposed to be in the mid–60s and, apparently, it was. The temperature was 66° when I got up this morning.

This morning's meter reading is 15957. Yesterday's reading was 15949. Thus, for the third consecutive day, my consumption was 8 kWh. It is 23% higher than my consumption on this date in 2013.

May 5, 2014

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It's possible that we will have a cool stretch or two in the next month, but my guess is that the warm weather is here to stay.

The temperature reached 93° around here shortly before 4 p.m.

Last night's low was expected to be in the 60s. It was 64° when I got up this morning.

This morning's meter reading is 15949. Yesterday's reading was 15941 so my consumption in the last 24 hours has been 8 kWh. That is unchanged from the previous 24 hours, and it is 33% higher than my consumption on this day in 2013.

May 4, 2014

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If it didn't reach 90° yesterday, it came close. It was 89° when I checked conditions around 4 p.m.

Last night's low was supposed to be 60°. It was 64° when I got up this morning.

It remains mostly dry. I don't think the possibility of rain returns to the forecast until late in the week — and, even then, the chance of rain is only about 30%.

This morning's meter reading is 15941. Yesterday's reading was 15933. My consumption in the last 24 hours was 8 kWh. That is a 60% increase over my consumption in the previous 24 hours, and it is about 45% higher than my consumption on this date in 2013.

May 3, 2014

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Yesterday was mild bordering on warm. The forecast for the next week suggests warm bordering on hot days.

Yesterday's high was probably 80°, maybe a little warmer. Last night's low was expected to be around 55°. It was 51° when I got up this morning.

This weekend and into next week, the talk is of temperatures in the low 90s during the day, 60s at night.

This morning's meter reading is 15933. Yesterday's reading was 15928. Thus, my consumption in the last 24 hours was 5 kWh. That is 25% higher than the previous 24 hours. And it is twice my consumption of this date a year ago.

May 2, 2014

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The temperature was in the 70s yesterday, and it is barely supposed to crack 80° today, but this weekend is supposed to be much warmer, with highs in the upper 80s, possibly lower 90s.

Last night's low was originally expected to be in the 40s, but it was upgraded to the low 50s. When I got up, it was 56°.

This morning's meter reading is 15928. Yesterday's reading was 15924. My consumption in the last 24 hours was 4 kWh. That means my usage went down by more than 42% compared to the previous 24 hours, and it is 50% lower than my usage on this date in 2013.

May 1, 2014

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May is getting off to a cool start — but it is deceptive because warmer weather is on the horizon.

Yesterday's high was around 68°. The low last night was supposed to be in the mid–40s. It was 47° when I got up.

The forecasters expect us to be back in the 80s by this weekend and into next week.

This morning's meter reading is 15924. Yesterday's reading was 15917. My usage in the last 24 hours has been 7 kWh. That is nearly 17% higher than the previous 24 hours, but it is nearly 7% lower than my consumption on this date in 2013.