Sometimes a home energy audit can get a bit dicey, especially when a couple thinks its other half is responsible for the uptick in power costs. But energy counselors don’t take sides.
A while ago, a call came into the energy counselor hotline (360-992-3355) about a high electric bill. DuWayne Dunham, energy counselor and energy services supervisor for Clark Public Utilities, spoke with the caller, listened to the complaint about the rising cost of electricity, and arranged an in-home energy review with the caller several days later.
Before going on an energy audit, or home energy review, the energy counselors pull the electric usage back two or three years. This helps them spot customer usage trends and highlights any periods of peak use. Correlating the consumption data with hot and cold weather patterns during that time provides insights as well. Weather fluctuations can often result in extra heating costs homeowners don’t remember to attribute to a cold snap when looking back months later. Often, power usage peaks during 90-plus-degree weeks in the summer or multi-day freezing temperatures in the winter.
Arriving for the audit, Dunham found himself in an unexpected predicament. The spouses squared off, each blaming the other for the billing increase. And both looking to Dunham to prove their case. The husband was frustrated his wife left the curling iron on “all the time.” Equally peeved, she countered saying he left the coffee pot on all day. The two wanted Dunham to issue an expert verdict. Instead, noting that his counseling specialty was purely in power, he suggested they all look at the number of kilowatts used this year, compared to previous years.
With the details collected back at the office, Dunham objectively analyzed the couple’s electrical use and began asking questions. He diplomatically noted curling irons only use about 1000 watts, and coffee pots almost the same. “But appliances like these aren’t the items causing a big change in your bill,” he pointed out. “Things like heating and cooling, and water heat, always make up the biggest part of your bill. So, let’s look at that.”
Using the couple’s current utility bill, Dunham described how to read it. He explained customers should always review the “Compare Your Use” box on the right-hand side of the bill. “Check your usage every month,” he said. “And, then compare this month’s daily kWh average use with the same month last year. This will tell you if you’re using more or less electricity and help you notice anomalies before they really add up.”
The couple looked at each other, and the wife turned and asked if the heating calculation included space heaters. Dunham nodded it did. “Why, are you using one?” he asked.
“It’s in the garage,” the husband said. Stepping into the garage, Dunham noticed it was warmer than the house–just as a floppy-eared puppy ran up and stretched out against his pant leg.
“We put the heater in here to keep the puppy warm,” said the husband as he scooped up the fluffy pup.
“I see your garage is uninsulated,” Dunham observed. “This means heat leaks out quickly, so the space heater is running constantly all day. And that’s going to have an impact on the amount of power you use.”
The wife said they had gotten the puppy a few months ago. Dunham looked at the bills and pointed out that that also looked like when their home power use peaked.
“We love this puppy and just wanted to keep him warm,” she offered.
“It is a cute puppy, but dogs have fur and don’t need as much warmth as we do,” Dunham said. “You could probably turn the heat down considerably and your puppy would still be comfortable.
Or, he joked, “Just agree the extra investment is a mutual expense and call a truce.”
In the end, the mystery was solved and the falsely accused curling iron and coffee pot walked free.
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98688.
