South side of my 2300+ sq.ft. homeYesterday I posted a link to an article about current automobile  fuel costs, and the projection for this summer.   As the weather heats up and I'm tempted to use the air conditioning more, I started to wonder about the cost of household  energy consumption... and if there is a way to offset some of the increased cost of fuel.   I found a  useful U.S. Department of Energy website where you can answer a series of questions about your home, family size, etc  and it will calculate the likely cost of energy for your home.   When it asks you for the cost of electricity, use our local Chelan County PUD  rate of $ .0218 per killowatt hour.    When the analysis is complete, you will receive  personalized suggestions for saving money.  

 Of course, here in the Wenatchee Valley, we are truly blessed to have extremely reasonable electric power rates... thanks to a several power generating dams on the mighty Columbia River, which physically separates the cities of  Wenatchee and East Wenatchee (as well as Chelan & Douglas counties)  

In reviewing  my bill for last month, the rate for the first 1,000 Killowatt hours is .0218.  That's just over 2 cents per killowatt hour.   The national average is around $ .0878, so we pay less than 25% of the national average.  That means, of course, that people in certain regions pay more than the national average... but very few (except maybe our neighbors in Douglas and Grant counties) pay less.    After the first 1,000 kwh the rate was bumped up to .027 per kwh.   Still very reasonable.    For my two-level 2300 square foot home, the bill was only $33.02!   In some parts of the country, this will seem impossible, yet it's true.  The month before, our bill was $27.59 .   There are only two of us living here and our power consumption will be less than a family... but still, this gives you an idea.

I was speaking to a prospective client, from Vancouver, on the phone Sunday evening.  He was asking if we have Natural Gas available because he doesn't like to cook with electricity.   I explained to him that there is Natural Gas available, through Cascade Natural Gas Company,  in some neighborhoods, but nearly everyone uses electricity exclusively as their power source.  After I told him about my power bills, he understood completely. 

As for the picture above... this is a south side view of my house.  If you click on the "thumnail" image it will enlarge.  You will notice a privacy screen protecting us from street traffic, because we have six  windows on that side of the house that are 22 1/2"w  X  70 1/2"h.  This privacy screen, while allowing light in, also helps protect us from the sun and thereby saving on air conditioning expense. 

After considering these power cost numbers,  those who live here will be reminded how lucky we are.  For those who don't live here... start packing and I'll help you find an energy efficient house to live in!

Have a great day!
Carol