electriticy in NB
 

Does anyone else in NB have huge electricity bills? They are over 3 x more than what we paid in NS, for a much bigger house! I used to pay around $90 a month in NS, just got the latest NB bill, $340 :eek:. We have two bills one for the house and one for a small shop we have which has a freezer running in it, and has lights on for maybe 10 minutes per day, that's all, it's bill was $119 for the month!

Any electricity saving tips? We already have no heating on and just use the wood stove :)


Other than that though NB is SO much better than NS!

Re: electriticy in NB
 

In the stuff about the proposal to sell NB Power to Quebec Hydro I keep reading that NB power rates are the lowest in The Maritimes. I'm not convinced.

We are all electric (although we have a woodstove if needed) but it's a heat pump/air con system and everything comes to around $3000 a year.

Winter bills have reached $400 for a month.

I always thought it was high but compared to what other posters have said are their total costs it doesn't seem so bad.

Electric baseboard heating is supposed to be very expensive.


Could the bills have been estimates or for more than one month?

Re: electriticy in NB
 

There are certainly variations from province to province, and also to billing agreements.

Quebec seems to have the best deal...at least until the "churchill falls" deal with NS expires.

Things to check:

Whats the per unit price

How much is simply delivery overhead...paying for the service, not the power used

Are you on fixed rate billing, or has time of use (smart metering) been factored in.

Smart metering is being rolled out across Ontario...that will ruffle a few feathers with far more expensive power in weekday peak hours.

Estimated vs actual billing should sort itself out in time... if its anything like Ontario you always have the option to phone in a reading every month.

Might be worth checking if your water pump (if you have one) is cycling permanently (dodgy pressure switch)...those are typically 240V and that will spin your meter in a hurry if its on all the time? Water heater temperature setting is another way to cut usage., if you have an electric heater.

Re: electriticy in NB
 

No it is an actual reading :-(

1300 kWh @ 9.69 and 292 kWh @ 9.22. That's on the main bill anyway.

We do have baseboard heaters, but they are never on. We also have an electric water heater, so will check into that thanks :thumbup:

Don't think we can get smart metering, but will look into it.

Re: electriticy in NB
 

Luckily I keep my power usage in check... only 280ish kWh especially since Maritime Electric is 13.99 or something per kWh.

Re: electriticy in NB
 

Thats $153 of it...where is the other $190 coming from?

Re: electriticy in NB
 

We're in NB and heating our 4 bed house costs around $2200 for electricity over a year, keeping the house between 17-19c in winter. That cost includes normal electric consumption and heating. We have electric forced air. We go down to about $115 in the summer and our highest in winter has been $370.

We like NB as well :)

Re: electriticy in NB
 

My power bills in NS are about $75 per month, oil forced air heating, although we mostly use the wood stove and pellet stove for heating. Mains water and sewer, we are just out of the town, so no pump bills.

Just out of interest, why do you think NB is so much better than NS? Just interested, I have never been there myself!

Re: electriticy in NB
 

Ours is a 4 bed 2600 sqft plus finished basement. Forced air with heat pump. Total elec bill for summer monthly is about $120 per month and peaks in the winter at about $350 ish. Sometimes use air con in summer and wifes has it at about 22 degrees in winter ( unless I turn it down to 19 ) and keeps it at about 17-18 during the night.

Re: electriticy in NB
 

This is good reading, I think its more expensive in the UK, despite it being milder here?

I currently pay £95 per month, its a balanced sort of billing, so the monthly amount stays the same to make up for the high and low consumption. It may well go up as we have just had a cold snap (for us!) That is gas and leccy and I have the usual gas central heating/hot water.

I think that works out about $2020.00 yearly, but given that I expect I should be using less than you in the winter...

Oh and its only a 3 Bed Semi, in rural South Wales.

Re: electriticy in NB
 

Don't forget salaries are lower.

Re: electriticy in NB
 

Good point, it is good to get a idea as it is one area that will no doubt only increase in cost.

Re: electriticy in NB
 

Check out this link for rates across Canada:- http://www.hydro.mb.ca/regulatory_af...ate_comp.shtml

Re: electriticy in NB
 

Why are the Maritimes provinces charged more for their fuel? PEI pay alot more than anyone else, is this not controlled in any way, I suppose there isnt much competition?

Re: electriticy in NB
 

They are a long way from the refining capacity, its logisitics, rather than competition, although that may have some smaller effect.

All the heating oil in the maritmes comes from either the Dartmouth Refinery (NS), or the Irving Refinery in St Johns(NB)...Due to its island nature and small population PEI is going to be expensive for virtually anything but spuds.