power

I've been hearing on the news a lot about how expensive it's going to be to heat our houses here in the US this winter. They're telling us that costs will be up 30% or more, some estimates are 50%! And this is on top of a summer that was VERY hot--much warmer than usual with resulting higher than usual energy costs. You can see that this year has been running higher than last year in the picture below. I've lived here for just over 2 years and those are my electrical bills since moving in. My house has a heat pump so the cost is reasonable in winter.

I'm a bit funny when it comes to utility costs, especially electrical. I dislike turning the A/C or heat on for the first time in a season so I put it off until things are a mite uncomfortable. Once on, I'm more reasonable though I do keep the house a bit cool in winter and warm in summer.

I try to not turn on the A/C until June nor the heat until November. The past few days have been the first cool ones this Fall here in eastern NC and already I'm tempted to turn on my heat. It's 61 in here now and I suspect with the way the wind outside is howling that it'll be 58 inside by morning. I don't mind the house being cool in the AM since I hit the hot shower pretty quick but if it's 60 or lower when I get home from work I just might turn that heat on a bit early this year. *sigh* It's only a week 'til November though... is it worth being a little chilled for a week to make it to an arbitrary date?

UPDATE: Yikes! It was chilly this morning. When I got up it was just under 40f outside and inside it was 57 with 54% humidity. A little chilly for me but endurable in the morning. Today's high is supposed to be 58 today and for the next week never go above 62 so I might just have to bite the bullet and turn on my heat today. I'd hold off if it was only going to be chilly for a day or two but with that kind of weather it'll never make it back over 60 inside. Brrrr!