Reducing my house electricity costs – any advice please .

[MAF666]

Our house electricity system is controlled by Sonoff switches.

Timers are set on most things, ie the water cooler switches off from 20:00 to 08:00, when the urn is turned on it turns off after 90 minutes, the espresso machine turns off after 60 minutes, tv is powered off etc.

Not sure what difference this makes.

 

This 2 channel switch comes with embedded power metering. Sounds useful.

Have ordered 2 to try.

[Gottfrid]

  On 9/2/2022 at 4:01 AM, transam said:

Tell the ladies in the house, a shower only takes 2 minutes, not 30.

Expand  

My shower takes about 10 minutes, and I am a man. Just that some people like to keep clean, while others don´t.

[transam]

  On 9/5/2022 at 2:01 AM, Gottfrid said:

My shower takes about 10 minutes, and I am a man. Just that some people like to keep clean, while others don´t.

Expand  

Well, I suppose some do take 10 minutes if they are extra stinky....????

[sometimewoodworker]

  On 9/5/2022 at 2:01 AM, Gottfrid said:

My shower takes about 10 minutes, and I am a man. Just that some people like to keep clean, while others don´t.

Expand  

I am a man. My shower takes 3 minutes because I understand how to wash. Other people were badly taught by there parents.

[KIngsofisaan]

Instead of trying to scimp on electric bills, and some ridiculous posts, does a person really belong in Thailand that cannot afford a $50 electric bill?

 

You could live like some folks here in rural Isaan that have NO electric at all.

 

Yeh you heard that right and no running water.

 

You could take an Isaan shower by dumping recirculated rain water on yourself with a plastic bowl. (Bathroom shown in pic)

 

You could cook with fire as shown.

 

Pray you never have a medical emergency, if $50 is such a big deal.

 

I have no idea, no clue, no rationale why someone would move 1,000's of miles away from their own country and have to worry about $50?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Custard boy]

A big thanks to every one for your comments and advice.  I will certainly be looking into every possibility . I’m a 70+ year  old age pensioner who’s sole income is derived from my British ( frozen ) government old age pension . It’s plainly obvious to those of us that are permanently residing here in Thailand that generally speaking the cost of living has risen and things have / are shooting up in price.

 

So trying to save a few Baht where ever I can including on our monthly electricity cost is some thing that I wanted to look at . I fondly recall my dear old departed dad often saying a penny saved is a penny gained.  

 

I burnt all my bridges when I permanently moved here to Thailand , so returning back to the UK is sadly never going to happen. ????

 

.

[Gottfrid]

  On 9/5/2022 at 3:39 AM, sometimewoodworker said:

I am a man. My shower takes 3 minutes because I understand how to wash. Other people were badly taught by there parents.

Expand  

Yeah, you understand how to get it done quickly. You should listen to your wife. She will probably say you will not always get the best result.

[Yorkie]

  On 9/2/2022 at 2:23 AM, KannikaP said:

The increase in cost from Bht 4 to Bht 5 per unit is only for over 300 units per month.

Expand  

Are you sure about that?

 

My information is that the charges per unit will stay the same (0 - 150 = ฿3.2484; 151 - 400 = ฿4.2218; over 401 = ฿4.4217) however the FT charge will increase from ฿0.2477 to ฿0.9343 which applies to all units used.

[KannikaP]

  On 9/5/2022 at 7:47 AM, Yorkie said:

Are you sure about that?

 

My information is that the charges per unit will stay the same (0 - 150 = ฿3.2484; 151 - 400 = ฿4.2218; over 401 = ฿4.4217) however the FT charge will increase from ฿0.2477 to ฿0.9343 which applies to all units used.

Expand  

Maybe it is if usage is less than 300 units you will get some sort of rebate.

[KannikaP]

  On 9/4/2022 at 5:13 AM, MAF666 said:

Our house electricity system is controlled by Sonoff switches.

Timers are set on most things, ie the water cooler switches off from 20:00 to 08:00, when the urn is turned on it turns off after 90 minutes, the espresso machine turns off after 60 minutes, tv is powered off etc.

Not sure what difference this makes.

 

This 2 channel switch comes with embedded power metering. Sounds useful.

Have ordered 2 to try.

Expand  

But how long does it take to save you Bht 399 on each appliance on which one is used?

You say your house is controlled by them, and then you have ordered two to try. Get it right before posting please.

[KannikaP]

  On 9/2/2022 at 1:52 AM, sometimewoodworker said:

So is the saving worth the probable need to reprogram the tv?

Expand  

Do you really have to 'reprogram' your TV after plugging it out, or a power cut. Mine doesn't need it, it comes back on exactly as it was.

[MJCM]

  On 9/5/2022 at 7:50 AM, KannikaP said:

Maybe it is if usage is less than 300 units you will get some sort of rebate.

Expand  

I read that as well there is some kind of rebate in place.

 

less then 300 you got the highest discount

 

 

But can't find the topic at the moment

 

But as TiT we have to wait and see what really happens.

 

Edit: Found the Topic

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1269638-household-electricity-users-to-get-discounts-from-september-to-december/

 

 

  Quote

 

According to the committee, households which use no more than 300 units of electricity per month will get a discount of 92.04 satang per unit from September until end of December.

 

Households which use between 301-500 units per month will be given discount rates on step-by-step format, ranging from 15% to 75%. These users account for 89% of household users nationwide, or 80% of all users.

 

Expand  

 

[KannikaP]

  On 9/5/2022 at 7:59 AM, MJCM said:

I read that as well there is some kind of rebate in place.

 

less then 300 you got the highest discount

from 301-400 a lower discount

and from 401 up no discount.

 

But can't find the topic at the moment

 

But as TiT we have to wait and see what really happens.

 

Edit: Found the Topic

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1269638-household-electricity-users-to-get-discounts-from-september-to-december/

Expand  

Discount = not paying, knocked off the bill, rebate = getting it back after payment. Which is it I wonder?

[Yorkie]

  On 9/5/2022 at 7:50 AM, KannikaP said:

Maybe it is if usage is less than 300 units you will get some sort of rebate.

Expand  

That should become clear to me in two weeks time when I receive my August/September bill. We rarely use in excess of 300 kw/hr/m at this time of year.

[Longwood50]

About 18 months ago we swapped out two older AC with new inverter models and an old washer and refridgerator also for new inverter models.  

Our elelectric bill went down by about 50%.  Of course it is up now due to the higher cost for electricity but still lower than it was 18 months ago before the switch.  We figured it would take us about 3 years of energy savings to completely pay for the new airconditioners and appliances. 

[MJCM]

  On 9/5/2022 at 8:02 AM, KannikaP said:

Discount = not paying, knocked off the bill, rebate = getting it back after payment. Which is it I wonder?

Expand  

Read here

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1269638-household-electricity-users-to-get-discounts-from-september-to-december/

 

[KannikaP]

  On 9/5/2022 at 9:05 AM, MJCM said:

Read here

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1269638-household-electricity-users-to-get-discounts-from-september-to-december/

 

Expand  

Thanks, I had read this article. So it is a DISCOUNT on the bill, not a rebate.

I shall know on 17th Sept when my bill comes, but will it be 50/50 ie last half of August at old rate vs from 1st Sept = new rate? Who knows?

[MJCM]

  On 9/5/2022 at 9:08 AM, KannikaP said:

Thanks, I had read this article. So it is a DISCOUNT on the bill, not a rebate.

I shall know on 17th Sept when my bill comes, but will it be 50/50 ie last half of August at old rate vs from 1st Sept = new rate? Who knows?

Expand  

TiT 

 

Our Bill will arrive on the 15th, but we are heading for an ultimate low bill since we live in this house (2020). Normal usage is around 11kWh a day, but because of the rains we are only at 6-8kWh.  (We have a big garden (3 Rai) and thus no need to water plants)

[KannikaP]

  On 9/5/2022 at 9:34 AM, MJCM said:

TiT 

 

Our Bill will arrive on the 15th, but we are heading for an ultimate low bill since we live in this house (2020). Normal usage is around 11kWh a day, but because of the rains we are only at 6-8kWh.  (We have a big garden (3 Rai) and thus no need to water plants)

Expand  

Are you saying that watering your 3 Rai takes over 4 units of electricity per day? And your water bill????

[KannikaP]

  On 9/5/2022 at 7:07 AM, Custard boy said:

I’m a 70+ year  old age pensioner who’s sole income is derived from my British ( frozen ) government old age pension .

Expand  

Are you saying that you live on less than Bht 25000 per month?

How do you re-new your Retirement Extension?

[MJCM]

  On 9/5/2022 at 9:39 AM, KannikaP said:

Are you saying that watering your 3 Rai takes over 4 units of electricity per day? And your water bill????

Expand  

Water Bill = Free using a Solar Pump from a "Lake" behind the property to Fill the 4000 Liter holding tank. (and that gets filled every day)

 

Wife uses a 750W pump 2-3 hours in the morning and 2-3 hours in the evening (she is a garden NUT) for the garden.

 

Edit: Before we got the Solar Pump we used a 2HP pump to pump water from the Gov Lake in front of the house to the Holding tank and then our PEA usage was reaching almost 500 units a month. So the Solar Pump brought that RIGHT down.

[KannikaP]

  On 9/5/2022 at 9:46 AM, MJCM said:

Water Bill = Free using a Solar Pump from a Lake behind the property to Fill the 4000 Liter holding tank. (and that gets filled every day)

 

Wife uses a 750W pump 2-3 hours in the morning and 2-3 hours in the evening (she is a garden NUT)

Expand  

Get Solar Pump for the wife's garden.

4000 litres of water a day will eventually empty the lake especially if other neighbours start doing it as well.

[MJCM]

  On 9/5/2022 at 9:50 AM, KannikaP said:

Get Solar Pump for the wife's garden.

Expand  

Not possible without a Major Investment. Because my Wife wakes up at around sunset, drinks a coffee and is into the garden and that time No Sun that is of any strength is out. Same in the evening (She comes into the house around 7-8pm (I told you she is a garden NUT). So this would require a BIG BIG battery. (and they are not cheap)

 

  On 9/5/2022 at 9:50 AM, KannikaP said:

4000 litres of water a day will eventually empty the lake especially if other neighbours start doing it as well.

Expand  

Own "lake" used to raise fish and in the dry season fed by a Submersible Deep Well Solar pump ????

 

[KannikaP]

  On 9/5/2022 at 10:17 AM, MJCM said:

So this would require a BIG BIG battery. (and they are not cheap)

Expand  

You wife's 4 units per day costs over Bht 7000 per year = Bht 20k for three years. Are batteries THAT expensive?

[MJCM]

  On 9/5/2022 at 10:20 AM, KannikaP said:

You wife's 4 units per day costs over Bht 7000 per year = Bht 20k for three years. Are batteries THAT expensive?

Expand  

We are not talking car batteries here if you want them to last.

 

Just an Example

 

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/12v-24v-48v-200ah-battery-lifepo4-lithium-iron-phosphate-i3381790204-s12503422969.html?

 

87k for 48V 200Ah which would give you approx 9.6 kW but because you want to be nice to a Battery you would only use approx 4-5kW out of it to make it last longer.

 

So just for my wifes Garden Pump, Inverter, Solar Panels, Battery, cables etc 200k (excl installer)

 

Batteries are (AFAIK) the biggest expense in a Solar Install, BUT if you can do without them, for example in only Day time use (which we CAN NOT for this PUMP) you are talking a a lot cheaper (because you cut out the Battery).

 

[sometimewoodworker]

  On 9/5/2022 at 10:20 AM, KannikaP said:

You wife's 4 units per day costs over Bht 7000 per year = Bht 20k for three years. Are batteries THAT expensive?

Expand  

Yes.

[MAF666]

  On 9/5/2022 at 7:54 AM, KannikaP said:

But how long does it take to save you Bht 399 on each appliance on which one is used?

You say your house is controlled by them, and then you have ordered two to try. Get it right before posting please.

Expand  

Thank you for the insight.

Designed, implemented, and supported this bulletproof system for 2 years. 

Currently have 22 single channel Sonoffs across the network topology.

Plan to redeploy 4 single channel Sonoffs and replace with 2 dual channel units with the energy usage reporting.

ROI is not important.

 

[KannikaP]

  On 9/5/2022 at 2:54 PM, MAF666 said:

Thank you for the insight.

Designed, implemented, and supported this bulletproof system for 2 years. 

Currently have 22 single channel Sonoffs across the network topology.

Plan to redeploy 4 single channel Sonoffs and replace with 2 dual channel units with the energy usage reporting.

ROI is not important.

 

Expand  

Are you saying that you have 22 different devices each controlled via a WiFI controlled socket and an app?

The ones you plan to use in future, dual channel, report your energy usage. But that's no god if you don't do anything about it.

You say ROI is not important, but you are trying to save a few units of electricity using gadgets which costs Bht 399 each

In UK they talk about Smart Meters will save you energy, but only if you reduce your consumption accordingly.

[Andre0720]

Appears to me that this electricity bill is quite low already, at least very reasonable when comparing to other users.

So from a starting point of 1,500 bahts, you are looking at savings certainly not significant.

As a point of comparison, when I had my old air conditioner replaced in my small apartment with a standard Eminent unit, same BTU consumption, my bill went down by some 1,200 bahts. My air cond. runs all night at 24 degrees for the bedroom only.

But I have worries also, like thinking about leaving behind too much money that others will enjoy spending...

????????

[MAF666]

  On 9/6/2022 at 12:51 AM, KannikaP said:

-/////////Are you saying that you have 22 different devices each controlled via a WiFI controlled socket and an app?

The ones you plan to use in future, dual channel, report your energy usage. But that's no god if you don't do anything about it.

You say ROI is not important, but you are trying to save a few units of electricity using gadgets which costs Bht 399 each

In UK they talk about Smart Meters will save you energy, but only if you reduce your consumption accordingly.

Expand  

Are you saying that you have 22 different devices each controlled via a WiFI controlled socket and an app?

YES. Also Bluetooth and Zigbee network, all mostly voice or scene controlled. 

The ones you plan to use in future, dual channel, report your energy usage. But that's no god if you don't do anything about it.

CORRECT.

You say ROI is not important, but you are trying to save a few units of electricity using gadgets which costs Bht 399 each

INCORRECT. Implementing a further 4 smart devices. The new unit is 75% smaller, easier to install, and now comes with the energy consumption functionality embedded. 

In UK they talk about Smart Meters will save you energy, but only if you reduce your consumption accordingly.

CORRECT