Monthly Energy Costs

The data are in for December 2010, and Rural Ways has managed to wrack up its third highest energy bill (the cost of electricity and natural gas) since January of 2009. The winner, should someone be perverse enough to call it that, was last December (2009), with a whopping total of $202.54. (Second place goes to February of 2010.) After two years, it is clear that December has earned the dubious honor of "energy hog." The best explanation for the December spike is the Christmas travel week. In both 2009 and 2010, Rural Ways spent one December week out of town. Concerned about the potential for frozen pipes, we left the gas furnace turned up both times. As a result, our two highest gas bills have been in December. When added to the cost of electricity during the rest of the month . . . well . . . there you have it.

In the 24 month period from the start of last year, we have had energy bills that have averaged about $110 per month. This seems to be a painfully high average. I would sleep better at night if we were paying about half that. One thing that would help would be to smooth out that August bump. Why, from April to November, are our costs relatively low . . . except for August? What is pushing our August cost towards winter levels? Is it the air conditioning? Rural Ways can't stand to be hot.