December 14, 2013

---

---

The temperature was practically unchanged yesterday from the day before, but there was no sun, just clouds, which made it feel colder.

If the forecasters are correct, today will be the last day for temperatures to remain below 50° — for a week, anyway.

Today's forecast high is expected to be 44°, which happens to be the temperature as I write this. It is expected to dip below freezing tonight, then tomorrow's high is supposed to be 53°. Currently, highs in the 60s are expected from Monday through Friday.

This morning's meter reading is 13152. Yesterday's reading was between 13121 and 13122 so consumption was 30½ kWh. That's an increase of more than 32% over yesterday's consumption, and it is almost four times my consumption a year ago.

December 13, 2013

---

---

It is still cold around here but not nearly as cold as it was. The remnants of the ice storm are gone today. It's a little drizzly but far too warm for the precipitation to adversely affect traffic the way ice can.

The temperature was in the upper 40s, possibly low 50s yesterday. While it got cold last night, I think it must have stayed above freezing. Whatever traces of ice that remained when I went to bed last night were gone this morning.

This morning's meter reading is between 13121 and 13122. Yesterday's reading was between 13098 and 13099. That means consumption in the last 24 hours was 23 kWh, a 33% drop from the previous 24 hours, but it was about 39% higher than this time last year.

Warmer temperatures are in the forecast. Highs this weekend should be around 50°, then the forecast calls for 60s Monday through Thursday.

December 12, 2013

---

---

Yesterday was the warmest day we've had in a week. By 2 p.m., the temperature was 47°, and just about all the remaining ice disappeared.

Well, except for the ice on the stairs leading from my apartment to the ground floor — and similar stairs in this apartment complex (and, I suppose, others) that are well hidden from the sun and are the last things to thaw. If the forecasts are correct, those holdouts will probably clear up today (tomorrow at the latest). I hope so. I can get out of my apartment, but I have to go to another set of stairs that are so well hidden they didn't even get much ice during the storm — so there wasn't as much that needed to thaw — but they are farther from my apartment door. They amount to taking the long way down, but, currently, they represent the only solution. Good thing, too. I have to give a final exam today.

Anyway ...

This morning's meter reading is between 13098 and 13099. Yesterday's reading was between 13063 and 13064 so consumption was 35 kWh. That is 10 kWh higher than this day last year. (Hopefully, I can start doing percentages again tomorrow or this weekend.)

December 11, 2013

---

---

I was on campus most of the day yesterday. I went in around 8:30 and I was there until 5. My understanding is that the temperature got up around 38° or 39°, and by the time I got home, much of the ice in the apartment complex had melted off.

It was dark, though, so my picture yesterday was hard to read. This morning's reading is clearer, but it represents the consumption of the last 15 hours, not 24. Hopefully, by this weekend, I'll be back in my old routine.

This morning's meter reading is between 13063 and 13064. The reading roughly 15 hours ago was 13027, about 36½ kWh. Projected over 24 hours, that would be about 58 kWh.

December 10, 2013

---

---

The temperature hovered just above the freezing mark most of the day yesterday, then plummeted into the 20s last night.

A gradual warming trend is predicted this week, as I wrote yesterday. Today's forecast called for a high of 41°, but that is what we have been told for the last couple of days only to see it fall far short.

I don't know much about today's conditions. Everything was still frozen when I left the apartment this morning, and I couldn't get over to check my meter before I had to leave. I was on campus from 9 a.m. until after 5 p.m., helping finish the last edition of the student newspaper. By the time I got home, it was dark, which accounts for the quality of today's photo.

Anyway ...

Today's meter reading appears to be 13027. Yesterday's meter reading was between 12965 and 12966. That is roughly 61½ kWh. Note: Because I was unavailable for most of the daylight hours today, my readings allowed for nearly 30 hours, not the usual 24.

December 9, 2013

---

---

Conditions have thawed out enough for me to check my meter.

Today's meter reading is between 12965 and 12966. The last time I was able to check my meter was Thursday morning, when the reading was between 12713 and 12714. So, over the last four days, my average daily consumption was 63 kWh.

I'm sure my consumption was higher on Friday and Saturday, when the nighttime lows (as well as the daytime highs) were at their lowest. It has been warmer the last couple of days.

And the forecast suggests that the temperature will get warmer still this week. Today and tomorrow are expected to be in the 30s, but then Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are expected to be in the 40s with temperatures in the 50s by this weekend.

Nighttime lows are expected to remain below freezing for the next three nights.

December 8, 2013

The streets seem to be clearing, but my stairs are still glazed over and, even if I could get to the ground level, it probably would be hazardous trying to get to my meter. I expect to be able to do that again tomorrow.

The temperatures haven't been above freezing since some time Thursday afternoon, I guess, but that is expected to change today. The forecast high is 36°, and the current temperature is 30°.

Based on previous experience, when I do finally get the chance to read my meter, I expect my average daily electricity consumption — even though I have tried to keep my thermostat as low as possible — to be 40–50 kWh, maybe more.