March 31, 2013

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There really is no obvious rhyme or reason to my utility consumption when neither the heat nor the air conditioning is in use.

Yesterday was a mild day, overcast, a bit breezy, temperature probably in the upper 70s. Last night's low probably was around 60° or so.

Nevertheless, my electricity consumption went up.

(It's been overcast this morning. It was raining just a few minutes ago. Consequently, I have had to adjust my position for photography because the automatic flash tends to wash out readings.)

This morning's reading is 8553. Yesterday's reading was around 8544. That's roughly 9 kWh.

But Friday's reading was 8537 — 7 kWh consumed from Friday to Saturday. And Thursday's reading was 8532 — 5 kWh consumed between Thursday and Friday.

March 30, 2013

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Yesterday was warmer than it has been, and last night's low probably wasn't below 60°.

But I was home most of the day, which meant my computer was on and my TV was on, and they were consuming electricity — even if my heat was not.

Anyway, my consumption went up. It remained in single digits, but it still went up.

This morning's meter reading is slightly past 8544. Yesterday's reading was 8537 so my consumption was a little more than 7 kWh.

The reading on Thursday was 8532 so consumption in the previous 24 hours was 5 kWh.

March 29, 2013

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Today is Good Friday. I've been told the temperature will be in the mid– to upper 70s today, and the low tonight will be around 60°.

I have no idea what the weather was like yesterday. School is closed for Good Friday today so we had to wrap up next week's paper a day early. I went to campus early; I had two classes to teach. Then I went to the newsroom around 2 in the afternoon, and I was there until nearly 11 last night. All in all, I was up there more than 12 hours yesterday, all of it spent inside.

Since I wasn't home much, I really had no idea what to expect from my meter.

What I found was that there was a slight decline in my consumption.

This morning's reading is 8357. Yesterday's reading was between 8351 and 8352. My 5½ kWh consumption in the last 24 hours is 1 kWh lower than my consumption in the previous 24 hours.

March 28, 2013

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The temperatures were a little higher yesterday than they were the day before.

Inexplicably, my electricity consumption went up.

As it has been for the last several weeks, the increase was only a kWh or two, but even so, for someone who looks for any pattern at all that can affect my electricity consumption, it is frustrating.

This morning's meter reading is between 8531 and 8532. Yesterday's reading was 8525 so my consumption was roughly 6½ kWh.

That's an increase of about 30% over the previous 24–hour period. My meter reading on Tuesday was 8520.

March 27, 2013

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I heard that yesterday's high was about 60°.

Once again, I was on campus much of the day. When I left, I know that this much was true — the sun was shining; it was cool (neither cold nor hot); and there was a light breeze blowing.

Last night, it got cold but not freezing cold. It may have dropped to the low 40s. I don't know. I do know that the temperature was 45° when I got up this morning.

Those may be optimum conditions for keeping my electricity consumption down. This morning's meter reading is 8525. Yesterday's reading was 8520. Consumption in the last 24 hours was 5 kWh.

That's actually a drop of more than 28% — and, in the last two days, my consumption has dropped by more than 50% since the weekend.

March 26, 2013

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The last 24 hours have been much colder.

But I've been inside at school much of the time. Spring break is over, and we're starting the final push of the semester.

Since I wasn't at home most of the day yesterday, there wasn't much running to consume electricity. The heat might have come on during the day, but, apparently, not for long.

This morning's meter reading is 8520. Yesterday's reading was 8513. That means my usage was 7 kWh.

That's a substantial drop from the previous 24–hour period. My meter reading on Sunday was 8502. That's a decline of more than 36%.

March 25, 2013

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It was cold and windy here yesterday, but I guess it could have been worse.

My friends in Missouri were hit with roughly a foot of snow yesterday. Here, it was in the low 50s — albeit with a wind chill in the high 30s — and sunny.

Last night, though, the temperatures plunged to near freezing, and my heat kicked on once or twice (that I know of).

As a result, my electricity consumption went into double digits — slightly.

Yesterday's meter reading was 8502. Today's reading is 8513 so my consumption was 11 kWh.

Since this is Texas, I really think this will be winter's last gasp. But I'm not ready for another Texas summer.