1st Electric Bill after getting Prime...

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by stevepea, Jun 6, 2017.

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  1. stevepea

    stevepea Senior Member

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    How was everyone's first electric bill after getting the Prime?

    I got my first SCE electric bill (from Southern Calif Edison) for the first full month of having the Prime (May -- as I bought the Prime in mid April). I wasn't sure how much of a shock it would be... but comparing it to the typical pre-Prime monthly bill amount, it wasn't bad at all. Of course every bill varies (including the billing cycle, from 28-31 days depending on the month), but comparing it to my usual pre-Prime monthly bill amount, it was just about a $10 difference.

    I then logged onto SCE's webiste, and saw that for that +/- $10 difference I had charged the car 12 times for the month (all but one time from zero). So that's not bad at all.

    Note that I generally have very LOW electricity usage (no solar, but I try to conserve) so am always (even with the Prime) still in the cheaper "Tier 1" (16c/kwh) rate. I don't have a daily commute, so sometimes don't use the car for 2-3 days (yet on other days can use it a lot). But the $10 difference isn't bad for 12 charges for the month (especially at California's electric rates).

    ---

    Public Service Announcement for SCE Customers: SCE has applied for permission to start automatically moving people in 2018 who do not specifically request to stay in their current regular plan, to a Time-of-Use plan. Just be aware of this. It won't be for another year or so (and it's too early to put in the request now), but in 2018, if you don't tell them you want to stay in your regular "D" plan, they're going to move you to a TOU plan. Depending on your energy usage, this can either save you money or cost you money (for me, the TOU plan is more expensive, so I have to tell them to keep me in my current plan). Everyone's usage is different, but this is just to let you all know, that in 2018, if you don't tell them what you want, they're going to move all residential customers to a TOU plan -- so it's worth it to do the math and decide which one is right for you, because while for some people who have heavy, specific loads, a TOU plan can save some money, for others (especially lower-usage customers), the TOU plans can be quite a bit more expensive.
     
    #1 stevepea, Jun 6, 2017
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    my bill went up about 50%, and i only get 15 miles per charge.:(
     
    #2 bisco, Jun 6, 2017
  3. stevepea

    stevepea Senior Member

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    Ouch. (I guess the 15 miles is the original PiP, not the Prime?)

    What might have done it is if perhaps you were right on the border between rate tiers, and charging put you into the next tier, that would really up your electric bill quite a bit. I'm low enough where even charging the Prime a lot, I'd still probably stay in the lower tier (If you can believe it, in January SCE started billing me a monthly low-usage fee, because even though I don't have solar, I conserve, and wasn't using enough electricity!) So the Prime charging got rid of that stupid fee, but I'm still in the lower tier, thankfully. The next tier goes from 16c to 25c -- quite a jump, so if that were to ever happen, then the bill would really shoot up...
     
    #3 stevepea, Jun 6, 2017
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  4. Prius from Dad

    Prius from Dad Senior Member

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    I charge about 24 times a month and at .15 kWh it comes to about $23 per month. Right now with the nicer weather in NJ, I am using about 55% EV and 45% HV on my tanks. My gas cost is about the same @ $2.3/gal and 10 gal fill ups. I'm loving it! (y)
     
    #4 Prius from Dad, Jun 6, 2017
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  5. ePWR

    ePWR Member

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    Would you like to borrow my 1998 Chevy truck? :)

    Ok, you're kidding right? 50%?
     
    #5 ePWR, Jun 6, 2017
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  6. HPrimeAdvanced

    HPrimeAdvanced Senior Member

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    I charge almost every day, 2-3 times/day. My electric bill only went up about $18/month. In Anaheim, our rate, level 1, is only 12cents/KW, level 2 is hard get to, at 19cents/KW. I Get hit in the summer when I use home A/C almost every day; I need it cool for heart problems. Even so, with Prime Advanced, expect only $90/month; no problem!.
    Keepin' it cool!!


    .
     
    #6 HPrimeAdvanced, Jun 6, 2017
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  7. ePWR

    ePWR Member

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    Sounds good, sir. I think bisco is just pulling our leg. Enjoy driving your nice looking Prime!
     
    #7 ePWR, Jun 6, 2017
  8. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    I charge my Leaf (24KWh pack) at home all the time and I don't even notice the difference. Between 2 full size server racks, a 900 gallon hottub and 3 AC units, the Leaf blends into the background noise...
     
    #8 2k1Toaster, Jun 6, 2017
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  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    sorry, senior moment.:oops: more like 20% or $60. but the dollar figure didn't start that way. when i got the pip, gas was $3. and kWh's were 16 cents. now gas is $2.30 and kWh's 24 cents.
    but new england is a different beast.
     
    #9 bisco, Jun 6, 2017
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  10. Pdog808

    Pdog808 Active Member

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    @stevepea - Thanks for the heads up on the SCE plan change.

    For those with an SCE account, you can run a quick comparison on the Time of Use plans versus your current plan (Domestic for myself). I'll end up paying about 1% to 29% (!!) more on the TOU plans (there are three, TOU-D-A, TOU-D-T and TOU-D-B).

    Going to put a note to myself to remember to call SCE and ask to remain on the Domestic plan for later this year.
     
    #10 Pdog808, Jun 6, 2017
  11. ems2158

    ems2158 Active Member

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    Based on those numbers, I don't think I'd bother plugging it in to charge. I'm paying $2.50 for gas and $.085 KWh in eastern PA. I'd come out a little ahead with the Prime.
     
    #11 ems2158, Jun 6, 2017
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  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    agreed, but i've never done it to save money. it's just a blast driving ev. more like paying for entertainment than transportation.:)
     
    #12 bisco, Jun 6, 2017
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  13. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    +1

    EV driving has nothing to do with $$$ for me. If the Leaf somehow converted shredded $100 bills to charge the pack, I'd still take it out for a spin.
     
    #13 2k1Toaster, Jun 6, 2017
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  14. joachimz

    joachimz Senior Member

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    i switched to the SCE TOU plan, i charge at night for .13$/kWh which should amount to $25-30 per month and if the SCE website ever were available when i want to check it I might actually know ... don't like SCE website, requires Flash :(:mad:
     
    #14 joachimz, Jun 6, 2017
  15. SaraBBrown94

    SaraBBrown94 Active Member

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    Same here I'm Western PA. Electric is only about 8cents/KWh. Sadly we have all of like 10 level 2 chargers in this half of the state and my workplace (Air Force Base) doesn't give 2 craps about electric vehicles and don't let you charge on base.


    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #15 SaraBBrown94, Jun 7, 2017
  16. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Mine went down because I got serious about energi (pun intended) efficiency and did several improvements around the house.
     
    #16 fotomoto, Jun 7, 2017
  17. JonW

    JonW Member

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    I look forward to seeing how the Prime effects my electric bill. Been saving my weekly e-mails detailing how much electricity I use daily so shouldn't be too hard to figure out the difference with the Prime. Being in a deregulated part of the State, I get to choose my electric provider and rates can range from 8 cents to 12 cents depending on the contract terms/limits. I personally go with the cheapest one that lists it as 100% renewable and doesn't charge a fee for not using a minimum of 500kwh per month. I mean, what the heck? There are times I've used in the 300 - 400 range. It's just mind blowing that during the summers there are always advisories played over the radio reminding people to adjust their thermostats up when they are not home and other stuff to reduce the load on the grid while the electric companies are trying to force people to use more electricity.
     
    #17 JonW, Jun 7, 2017
  18. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Summer time and the A/C is buzzing. But I was able to compare month-to-month outside of summer and found with our BMW i3-REx, it went up $20/month which nicely offset the $30/month gasoline.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #18 bwilson4web, Jun 7, 2017
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  19. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    Now you're cheating since you are retired. More time to "play", though.
     
    #19 Prodigyplace, Jun 7, 2017
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2017
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  20. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

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    My bill went up so high after I got my Prime that I decided to get solar. I drove the Prime for a while without charging because plugging in was so much more expensive than gasoline.

    How come California is such a rip off state (not just power costs)?
     
    #20 MikeDee, Jun 7, 2017
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2017
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