Carl, that sounds about right. We had a gas heater but I found running a small AC unit with heat used MUCH less in the end. So, you are saying just having a stove and using a tankless gas water heater will not bring my monthly charges down? INSANE isn’t it? Use more. pay less? Aside from the normal montly fee for gas service, I average a $12 bill. That is if those bozo’s don’t put the share charges on my account. ONE TIME, Thanks. I just remembered I need to talk to a supervisor there.  have a great day.

What ever you do,don’t start using less gas because then their rate then goes up.The more appliances you have using gas the cheaper the rate.Talking about having a battle a few years ago with the gas company on their policy at that time, and I’m assuming they still have a similar one,the more you use the cheaper the rate. I said I thought it should be the opposite way,the less you use the cheaper the rate. I had a very long and cold winter one year with out heat and the next year I broke down and got another gas appliance to keep the kids and wife from freezing again.Between the power company and gas company they’ve got you any way you go.

We have low flow showerheads and Toto 1.2 gpf toilets, a front load Siemen’s washer(nearly spins clothes dry), an energy saver dishwasher, etc… I have never used more than the min amt of water. I think we should be rewarded for being frugal. Now that I think about it, I guess the excess charge for unused water could go towards infrastructure. Will they care to repair and upgrade? We considered a tankless gas water heater but I am only paying about $20 a month now. What’s the point? I don’t see how it would save us money yet would cost about $850(although there is a $300 tax credit).

So, we want to save energy? Make air free for filling up tires(make fun about properly inflated tires which make a significant difference in fuel use). SLOW DOWN! Give us incentives for buying bats of insulation weekly. Encourage people to shut off their power strips when they go to bed at night. Percentages add up.

Don’t you just love her to forever? Them babies are a joy for a life time.Remember if you get tired of her, send her on down here to me and the wife but she’ll be mighty spoiled when you get her back.I’ve tried most energy savings things and have had some modest results but the power and gas people are always a step or two behind on their raises.It seems they are saying the less you use the more I have to charge and one of them told me exactly that.I’ve had cf bulbs for maybe 4 years and a solar hot water heater for over 20 years and a few solar cells too.The hot water heater was the biggest saver at the start but at this time I’m fighting a losing battle as the rate increases keeps putting me further in the hole.It seems to me it’s a planned thing saying no matter how much less you use they are going to make the same amount of money off you.On those CF bulbs I’ve had quite a few burn out on me after about a year so save those receipts for exchanges.

Thank you David. We are using the cf bulbs also. We can’t afford a heat pump. We keep the thermostat high in the summer and low in the winter. We have sealed cracks around windows and doors. We use ceiling fans to circulate air.

One thing i did that helped allot was change every light bulb in my house to compact florescent bulbs.

my lighting expense went down about 75% and the CF bulbs last 10x longer than normal light bulbs.

I also had a heat pump installed recently. So instead of using our Gas furnace, the Heat pump does most of the work which saves allot on my Gas Bill.

I agree with you Mr.Carl, show me a cheap house with cheap heating and cooling costs. I could just as easily buy a $65K house, and save the rest of that to pay my energy costs for 20 years, lmao!

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I uploaded a pic of the new baby. She was only 2 hours old in this one. I’ll have more soon!
http://www.wkrg.com/user_photos/photo/1720/

If I could afford a house that costs $650,000 I don’t think I would be worried much about electricity and gas.A nice eco-friendly house but out of reach for maybe 75% of Alabamians.We need a more modest one,say under $200,000 and 2000 sf to make an impact on the total energy picture.