19 July 2012

Same song, second verse, more $avings...

Hi, all! I first mentioned it on Facebook and here it is—solely due to OG&E's SmartHours pricing, we saved $125.79 this billing! Additionally exciting, this billing cycle's total was $252.90 less than last year at this time. Part of that is due to us using only 75% of the kilowatt hours as last year. But even so, let's imagine last year's usage at our current average kilowatt hour rate—had we been on SmartHours last year, our bill might have been $160 less!

For 143 hours every week, we pay only 4.5 cents per kilowatt hour. From 2–7 p.m. each weekday, we pay anywhere from 4.5–46 cents per kilowatt hour. That rate varies due to energy costing more to produce when temps and usage volume are up.

We are now in the midst of 100-plus degree days and higher nighttime temperature lows. I notice this in our 'base load' overnight usage. We've even turned off the heater on the hot tub, but are keeping the pump running for a 'cool tub.' I have also recently turned off the window unit in the sun room area because we spend so little time in there. Other than early morning, it is mostly shaded throughout the day. If we plan on working in there (Tom's plastic model building; drafting table; my sewing/crafts) for any amount of time, I'll crank 'er back up.

I've moved most of my energy-gobbling chores outside of the 2-7 p.m. SmartHours. These include baking (yeah, right), running the dishwasher, and washing/drying/ironing clothes. The one activity I've not moved past 7 p.m. is cooking dinner, so we do have some usage spikes around 5-6 p.m., but that's still only a matter of a dollar or two.

I've been thoroughly pleased with SmartHours. I'd encourage my friends to try it. To check your OG&E account eligibility, click here. (Homeowners, renters and those in multi-family residences may qualify if those residences already have SmartMeters [were likely installed outside in 2010] in place.) Remember, you, the CUSTOMER retain COMPLETE CONTROL over how cool or warm you keep your space as well as how and when you use your energy. Want to know more about the SmartTemp thermostat tool that's at the center of your money saving? Check out this video.

If you've got questions, please comment below and I'll get back with you. If you want to read my other SmartHours posts, check them out here. As you'll see in the tiny tagline below, these are sponsored posts. Rest assured, if being enrolled wasn't worth it, I'd tell you that, too.

*This is a sponsored post. As always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.

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