June 7, 2012

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As forecast, a cool front has arrived, bringing rain, for which we should be grateful since we likely won't see much more for a few months.

Temperatures are in the 70s, which is nice, but, as you can see, the conditions have affected the quality of the meter picture.

Today's reading is 3214. Yesterday's reading was 3194. Temperatures are supposed to remain low tomorrow, then we start seeing 90°–plus days again on Saturday.

I'm in a bit of a hurry today. I need to visit my father in the hospital, but I will write here, perhaps tomorrow, about my latest utility bill, which was, once again, an estimate. The office adjusted the amount owed to reflect the photographic evidence I compiled for the month of April, but I shouldn't have to go through that every month.

Well, I could go on and on about that, but I have other things demanding my attention today.

June 6, 2012

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I spent yesterday afternoon at the hospital, but the temperature climbed into the mid–90s yesterday afternoon, and I'm sure that accounts for much of my electricity consumption.

This morning's reading is 3194. Yesterday's reading was 3160. Therefore, my consumption yesterday exceeded 30 kWh.

I hope it drops in the next few days. We're expecting a 70% chance of rain after 1 p.m. today and through tonight, then a 50% chance of rain tomorrow and tomorrow night, then a 30% chance on Friday. Temperatures all three days are supposed to be in the 80s.

June 5, 2012

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My life has suddenly turned chaotic.

My father has had a heart attack. It appears to be mild — as these things go — but my daily routine has been radically altered as a result.

I spent most of yesterday afternoon in his hospital room. He wasn't actually there most of the time that I was. I didn't know that he was undergoing tests when I went over to see him, and his room was empty when I arrived.

Not knowing how long he would be gone — or even where in the sprawling Presbyterian Hospital complex he might be — I decided to remain in his room until he returned.

So I waited ... and I waited ... and I waited.

It was about three hours after I arrived that he was brought back to his room. He seemed tired so, after his surgeon came by and talked about the bypass surgery he probably will undergo this afternoon, we had a little while to talk before I excused myself.

Anyway, I was away from home most of the afternoon, which accounts for the lower electricity consumption in the last 24 hours compared to the previous 24 hours.

The drop wasn't dramatic, but it was noticeable. The weather yesterday was pretty much what it was like on Saturday and Sunday, but my consumption on those days reached and/or exceeded that 30 kWh benchmark.

This morning's reading is 3160. Yesterday it was 3133. Thus, my use yesterday was 27 kWh.

Might be the same story today. I will be going to the hospital around 1:30 this afternoon. Dad's surgeon said he couldn't be penciled in to the schedule until at least 3.

June 4, 2012

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We do seem to be settling into summer mode here in Dallas.

Yesterday's temperatures were in the 90s, and last night's lows were in the 70s. I do expect it to get worse and stay that way for awhile before it starts to get better, and my meter reading for the last 24 hours (3133) suggests to me that, if the option were offered, I might be willing to take that 30 kWh average that the billing company has been claiming this spring for billing purposes for the next three or four months, at least. It would probably be a better average than I will be getting.

Since yesterday's reading was 3103, my usage actually was 30 kWh. I can only imagine what it will be when daytime highs are in triple digits and nighttime lows don't drop below 80°.

Those days aren't far off.

June 3, 2012

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The heat has returned to north Texas, and, as I have been saying, it likely will remain with us until October — or even November.

It was back in the 90s yesterday — after a couple of relatively cool days on Thursday and Friday — and my electricity consumption reflects that. Today's reading is 3103 (it's a little hard to read because direct sunlight has been spotty this morning). Yesterday's reading was 3068. Thus, my consumption was about 35 kWh — more than my consumption on Thursday and Friday combined.

As high as that consumption rate is for me, I'm afraid it will look good in another month.

June 2, 2012

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Yesterday wasn't quite as mild as the forecasters said it would be, but I still kept my electricity consumption below 20 kWh.

This morning's reading is 3068. Yesterday's reading was 3051.

Thus, my consumption in the last 24 hours has been 17 kWh.

OK, I know things are going to change — and soon. Like today. The forecasters say we'll be back in the 90s today and every day in every extended forecast I have seen calls for 90s during the days and 70s at night.

This is Texas, though. It could be warmer than that.

I expect brutal heat. Lots of it.

So I'm grateful for days like the last two. They offer a glimpse into a world we likely will not see again for four or five months.

June 1, 2012

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It remained relatively mild (for this time of year) in the last 24 hours — even dropped into the low 60s, as forecast, last night — so my electricity consumption remained low.

This morning's reading is 3051. Yesterday's reading was 3037, which means I stayed well below 20 kWH in the last 24 hours.

I don't expect to have many — if any — days like that between now and September or October. In fact, I expect today to be the last sub–90° day we have for quite awhile.

But I plan to take advantage of it!