Re: How's Your Hydro?
 

No, no...it's been so long your forgot that some things are quicker without them 'helping' :lol:

Re: How's Your Hydro?
 

^^^ this. ;)

Re: How's Your Hydro?
 

Yesterday's use without using any appliances like washer/dryer/dishwasher, and only using the toaster oven to cook dinner for 10 mins, the daily use was 44 kWh more then double the same day last week.

Difference is the temps, last week was mild and +8 and yesterday was minus 3 for the high and minus 5 overnight.

Living room thermostat is at 55F now, bedroom we have set at 68F and closed the door with towels on the floor to keep the cold out out.

The place is clearly poorly insulated and cannot keep the heat in and cold out.


Today its currently minus 3 but the forecast calls for the temps to keep dropping and hitting minus 9 by the evening.


Baseboards should be banned....lol

Re: How's Your Hydro?
 

JS could you look at say the August & September bills to compare them with November, December & maybe January electricity bills. The difference would be the heating cost?

Based on that & take it that you would have the heat on from December - April 1 (5 months) - what would you estimate the electricity cost for just the heating portion part of the bill would be for that period, then divide by 5 to get the average monthly cost, then the 5 month period total cost divide it by 12 to get an average monthly cost

I would like to guess or hope that the heating bill across 12 months is about $20 - $30/mth more than the non winter months bill average.... guessing

Re: How's Your Hydro?
 

I agree with Jsmth about baseboard heaters. They are an very inefficient way to try to heat a room. The only one in our living room is right under the main window. We no longer use it. Instead, we have a radiant heater that keeps the area we actually use warm when we need it.
Interesting news item on TV yesterday evening. Some people living in rural Ontario are paying 30% of their income just for electricity.

Re: How's Your Hydro?
 

The stories out of ON about electricity are downright scary, seems that province is in trouble.

Usage yesterday with it set at 60-63F was 34 kWh, 10 kWh less compared to the day prior, but 60-63F inside is just too cold, and we turned it back up to 68F in the day, and drop it down to 65F overnight.

Looking over the summer with A/C being used, seems A/C is cheaper to run then baseboard heaters.

Re: How's Your Hydro?
 

I agree with you and Ontario is where I am relocating too!!! I have not seen or read anything positive.

Re: How's Your Hydro?
 

Not sure what you have in mind about nothing positive but:

No premiums for medicare; Trillium that restricts your prescriptions costs so that ill health doesn't bankrupt you; $100 a month towards medical supplies if diabetic...

Perhaps what you are reading as disadvantages are actually disadvantages in Canada rather than Ontario?

Re: How's Your Hydro?
 

Sorry but the nothing positive was only related to Hydro. Should have make that bit clearer.

Sorry about the confusion, I have read and heard many positive things regarding Ontario and Canada as a whole. My only concerns are Hydro, Car Insurance and dealing with snow again after 8 years without it. All quite trivial really in the scheme of things.

Re: How's Your Hydro?
 

Fair enough. And that is what the thread is about...but with thread drift you never know. :lol:

The thing with Hydro is not the cost per unit or whatever but that so much of it's needed.
I pay almost 10 times what it was in the UK but it's not ten times as costly, it's 20 times worse weather. :rofl:
I don't drive but everyone complains about car insurance no matter where in Canada they are. :(
Not really...not the snow anyway. Heart attacks, back injury, fall injuries, costs,the grind just to get through winter....

Re: How's Your Hydro?
 

haha so true


Yeah from what I am reading here and online, it is the service costs more than the actual price.
Privatization has really helped a lot of industries and shareholders of pretty much essential basics of day to day living.

Ah yes forgot about these things since not had to deal with it for so long, except for a few weeks here and there.

I have been looking at some Instagram pics of the snow falls in Vancouver and Toronto, and while they look really pretty and bring back memories. The reality is sheesh, scraping your car in the morning or after work, and all the other fun that goes with it!

Re: How's Your Hydro?
 

utilities & the cost of living in general all gone way way up since you left Ontario 8 years ago :nod:

Just the two of us seniors, the blended cost/mth (across 12 mths) for all utilities (Electric, gas & water/sewer) is $342/mth tax included ($4104/yr)

Re: How's Your Hydro?
 

Discovered one issue. The patio door has no weather stripping at all. Explains the draft.

Re: How's Your Hydro?
 

I am originally from the UK.

That seems to be quite a lot, will need to review utilities bills for the last yes.

Re: How's Your Hydro?
 

"privatization" of utilities has not proved to be cost efficient in the long term. It used to be that "utilities" was the term used for basic services provided by government (ie taxpayers) towards a minimum standard of living for it's citizens. Basic referred to water, heat, electricity, law enforcement, public health...all reflecting civilised living in advanced cultures. Heck, it seems more like a free for all "Im alright jack" nowadays.