electric bill

[QuickMick]

we have demised elec on the dock... what is your average bill? usually in the summer its about 5 bucks, last month it was 45, but i was running the ceramic heaters often (one almost constantly) and they do pull some juice so 45 seemed fair/right. also, anyone know how to read the meter to determine usage?

[sailingdog]

What kind of meter do you have at the power post? If you read it and record the reading at the beginning of the month, and then read it at the end of the month and subtract the first reading, you should have the number of kW hours you used in a month.

BTW, running a 1500 watt ceramic heater 6 hours a day for 30 days is 270 kWh.

[QuickMick]

its like the one one the side of a house... those four little spinning dials with coresponding 'clock' face dials above them.

[CapnBilll]

Each of the little clocks is a digit. Write what number the little hands are pointing to, then again a month later. It may take a couple of times before they start making sense. Check against bill, it should have kw/hours used somewhere on it. My boat uses $20-30 a month, in a semitropical climate.

[speciald]

I was paying $300/month as a live-aboard in the Baltimore Inner harbor 2 years ago - three A/c units, fridge/freezer, TV, etc.

Last year we were in Annaplois for the Summer - $100/month live-aboard charge, no extra for water or electricity; a bargain and I got a 6 month lease.