How does electric bill work

Question

okay i have done research and i live in hawaii(to let you know). some people who are barley home, dont have ac or anything, and unplug everything still have a bill thats around 250. wtf! how is that possible. how are we being charge for each kw of power we use. this seems like way too much if these people are not using anything. help

Answer 1

Check your bill.  Here in sunny California there are lots of taxes and surcharges that rack the bill up before anything gets turned on.  My electric bill is WAAAAY higher than that and all I have running are computers, a fridge, the stove, lights, and one AC.

Answer 2

If you are hooked up to the power grid, your supplier must maintain power lines and poles and transformers on standby to respond to your demand the instant you turn on the switch.  This costs the supplier to pay for labor and capital tied up in the equipment.  More importantly, the supplier has to either generate power to be ready to meet your needs -- or contract with another company to generate that power -- whether or not you use it.

If you want the convenience of being hooked up to the grid, then you must expect to pay the costs and profit of the people who maintain the system for you.

In most jurisdictions, you have the option of setting up your own alternative system of wind, water or solar power and selling your surplus back to the power company.  All you have to do is invest the money necessary to buy and maintain the equipment.

Another alternative is to have your home disconnected from the grid altogether and use biomass to generate methane to run a power plant.  Some farms in western Canada and elsewhere are doing this.

Answer 3

Well, I'm in California and only run a bill of about $25 / month. BUT I actually use power-strips and permit NOTHING to run when I'm gone except for the clock on the microwave.

You MIGHT want to have your power-company come out and give you an "efficiency" check... OR check with the power company to ensure they are reading the meter correctly and monthly.

At another residence, I had a $100 power bill... problem was I'd turned the power off at the main breaker because I'd been out to SEA for that whole month... The power company hadn't read my meter... just took an average.

GOOD LUCK.