Check My Math - Please!

[Teken]

I just received my monthly hydro / gas bill for the month of January. Many people have indicated that breaking down the whole bill will provide you with a real world cost per kwh.

I wanted to ensure my math was correct:

Basic charge: $6.85
Energy charge: 670.000 kwh x $0.06940 = $46.50

Subtotal: $53.35

2.50% City Tax = $1.35
7.00% PST = $3.74
5.00% GST = $2.67

====================

Final Bill is $61.11

====================

Now if I do the math my true cost per kwh is $0.0912? <-- Is this correct?

Teken . . .

 

[wbrian63]

Yep

61.11 / 670 = .0912 X 100 = 9.12 cents / kwh.

Not bad - I'm paying 9.7 all-in, and Houston has some of the better rates in Texas.

 

[Teken]

Yep

61.11 / 670 = .0912 X 100 = 9.12 cents / kwh.

Not bad - I'm paying 9.7 all-in, and Houston has some of the better rates in Texas.

Wow . . . So much for this so called cheap hydro power this ****** province keeps touting all about!

Now, my follow up question is this: I have a website which tracks my energy consumption. Would it be accurate to enter this new *corrected* value into the site as to the cost per kwh?

Or is something I should just leave at the original $0.06940 rate?

Teken . . .

 

[djjsr]

If the Basic charge of $6.85 is the same every month, that new "corrected" value will change anytime your usage changes.

 

[Teken]

If the Basic charge of $6.85 is the same every month, that new "corrected" value will change anytime your usage changes.

Than, what would be the correct value to use as in terms of real cost per kwh?

Teken . . .

 

[Steevo]

If you want to know your actual out-of-pocket cost per KWH, your math is right.
You are dividing your total bill by the number of kilowatt hours used, which is right.
What might vary month to month is the rate per KWH they are charging you.
Around here, they have stepped rates, and once you pass a certain tier of usage, the rate per KWH goes up, then again at another higher usage tier.

By the way, you have cheap power.
Mine is 12.1 cents per KWH (actual out of pocket cost) average, over the last 12 months.

 

[ishiboo]

Than, what would be the correct value to use as in terms of real cost per kwh?

Teken . . .

Whatever you want for your purposes... there is no right or wrong answer.

I would personally use the actual cost per kwh, add the tax to that and use that value since it's consistent no matter the total kwh used.

.06940*1.145 = 7.9463 cents/kwh.

By taking the total bill and dividing by kwh used, you will get a different value each month... and it's "more accurate" but you are using this for determining your energy usage and comparing it to others, so I don't see adding complexity by adding the fixed meter charge you can't do anything about!

You really need help with this?

 

[ishiboo]

By the way, you have cheap power.
Mine is 12.1 cents per KWH (actual out of pocket cost) over the last 12 months.

My base is 12 cents plus the nearly $10 meter fee! And I have 2 meters on this property alone

 

[larry_g]

If tracking costs I would use the higher number. I don't know how sophisticated your software is if you could add in the fixed costs or not. I would at least add your 14.5% taxes to your usage or call it $0.08 per kwh

lg
no neat sig ine

 

[KPSquared]

Seriously? You complain about $0.09? I'm closer to $0.16 here in Alberta. . . I'd kill for $0.09.

 

[tdkkart]

I'm at 13.3 cents here.......

 

[K13]

Seriously? You complain about $0.09? I'm closer to $0.16 here in Alberta. . . I'd kill for $0.09.

Yeah no kidding I just got my bill with all charges it was 102.73 for 533kWh so around $0.19.

 

[Rickcnc]

Yeah no kidding I just got my bill with all charges it was 102.73 for 533kWh so around $0.19.

Hmmmm I got a deal in Ontario Jan usage averaged out to 0.149

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Similar thread a while back (you must have been asleep) and what I pointed out then is that your only accurate TOTAL cost per Killowatt-hour was to take the total of what you pay and divide by the total kwh consumed on the bill. This will vary slightly every month due to the mix of fixed cost and hourly costs (monthly variable). Your only real choice is to pick an average number and not sweat the details.

The fixed charge may not actually be part of the kwh charge, but just like the taxes, its something you have to pay to get the POCO to give you the electricity, so its a cost to you. Depends on whether this is for a budget where you need to keep track of total cost, or for some other purpose where you track the fixed cost separately or not at all.... but certainly not a true reflection of what you pay.

You cannot always plug life into neat little boxes.

Charles

 

[welder4956]

[
Charles

Off Topic - Charles, I just noticed location is 50 miles south of Atlanta. Are you near Griffin? I have a brother in Barnesville.

 

[Teken]

Similar thread a while back (you must have been asleep) and what I pointed out then is that your only accurate TOTAL cost per Killowatt-hour was to take the total of what you pay and divide by the total kwh consumed on the bill. This will vary slightly every month due to the mix of fixed cost and hourly costs (monthly variable). Your only real choice is to pick an average number and not sweat the details.

The fixed charge may not actually be part of the kwh charge, but just like the taxes, its something you have to pay to get the POCO to give you the electricity, so its a cost to you. Depends on whether this is for a budget where you need to keep track of total cost, or for some other purpose where you track the fixed cost separately or not at all.... but certainly not a true reflection of what you pay.

You cannot always plug life into neat little boxes.

Charles

I believe that was the thread that inspired me to write this. I have been thinking about it for awhile and simply decided to act on it this week.

You're probably right just taking the basic charge, taxes, and kwh rate is a good compromise.

As much as I want that neat little box this is a close compromise.

Teken . . .