re: Those living in small spaces: Level Billing (Entergy)

That seems high LL. I have an 760 sq ft apt, and I literally just had my highest bill ever in almost 3 years of being here and it was $78. I looked back, and my first year average was $43 and my second year was $49. I keep mine on 72 degrees and leave the tv running 24/7 for the pet.

I live in a 600 sq ft place and my enteregy bill last month was 36 bucks.

I turn it off when I go to work and I for the weekends (it may get to 81) then I put it to 73/74 while I'm there. I just run fans and don't wear a lot of clothes while I'm there. I'm very comfortable and most of the time cold.

I use to keep it around 68 but when I started running fans I noticed I could keep it much higher and still be very comfortable.

It looks like the consensus is not level billing. I'll just wait a few months and see what the summer brings.
I have no idea how they estimate the level billing amount, but they might be looking at my bill history which is in a different home, so who knows?

I'll clean and spray the coils tonight and change the filter and see how my bill after the next is. My next bill will not be accurate as I haven't been home and it will include the rollover from my previous home.

Thanks for the help I've seen some people rave about the level billing, but I wasn't sure if it was worth it for someone with a small place who is away from home for 10 hours/day.

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Don't know if this helps, but I have a 950 sq. ft. apt. with no level billing and mine typically runs between $110-$140

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This is my situation. Sometimes it's higher, ~$175, but sometimes it's lower, ~$60.

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I already run fans in every room When I say I like a cold home, it's no joke. I blame my father. He kept our home at 67 growing up and people would come over and pile on blankets just to sit on the couch. His nature rubbed off on me.

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I was the exact same way. For the longest time I always had very cold houses. Now I just take my clothes off when I walk in the door (keep boxers on though ) and turn on fans. Feel great.

Plus I sleep on an air mattress so that doesn't warm me up like a lot of beds.


This is at my apartment in TX, not my house in BR where my energy bills are waaaay higher.

Cleaning coils should help a lot. I just had a similar issue in my town home. Due to the sunset facing my building head on, bad insulation, two large bay windows on the front facade, an an old neglected AC unit, I'd usually come home to a thermostat reading 80+ during the summer.

Just recently I bought some blackout curtains for upstairs bay window, did blown in insulation in the attic, and had my AC serviced for the first time in 3 years and it cools much better. I set it to 76 when I leave for work at 6:45 and it's normally at 76 when I get home at 4:30. Yesterday was a bit warmer at 77, but it's still cooling better and not running constantly. I need a bigger condenser unit, but might as well ride my 20+ year old Rheem until it gives lol.

ETA: I've also learned to sleep comfortably with the thermostat at 74 during the summer. Seems crazy, but when it's 90+ degrees and 90+% humidity outside, 74 feels like an igloo...I have a box fan In case I want to be cooler.

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I just love snuggling in a blankie so much

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I do too. I ended up getting a couple blankets that are knitted cotton with the holes in it. That way I can have blankets all over but they breathe.

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It looks like the consensus is not level billing. I'll just wait a few months and see what the summer brings.
I have no idea how they estimate the level billing amount, but they might be looking at my bill history which is in a different home, so who knows?

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I'm not sure how they estimate the level billing either in a non-established account, but one BIG advantage to having leveled billing is that it's easier to budget every month how much you need for household expenses. Mine varies maybe $10/month, but it's always around the same amount. If you plan on staying in this place for a year or more, that can be helpful.

$116 does seem high though; I think our leveled bill is around $220/month for a 2200 sq. ft. older home with crappy insulation.

The way level billing works is they take an average of the last 12 months and that is your bill. Since this is a new house, they might be using square footage, the prior residents usage, or some other method to estimate what your bill would be. The $116 they quoted you will not be fixed. It will change slightly as your average changes. The intent is to make the bills more consistent so people are not surprised with a large bill in the middle of the summer when usage is at it's peak. In the end, you will pay the same no matter what you choose. If there is a difference when you move out, you will either pay them or they will pay you.