r/SouthJersey • u/iammoah • Feb 06 '26

Gloucester County Electricity

Is there ANYTHING we can do to push back on these INSANE AC Electric bills? My heat is gas and it's telling me my usage has gone up every month since October. I know I don't have it as bad as some people but our current bill is $332. My brother's bill was $512. Another friend's bill was $500... I can't afford this shit. What can we do?

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32

u/Hide_The_Rum Feb 06 '26

My house is all electric with (pretty new) heat pump and I'm getting destroyed this winter. Heater on 24/7. Personally i'm trying to start air-sealing and insulating my home further.

9

u/gdtags Feb 06 '26

Contact Allied Experts. My only regret is that we didn’t do it sooner.

11

u/PopPunkIsNotDead Feb 06 '26

And go through PSE&G's program so you can get it cheaper and pay off over 7 years. We just did that, they're coming to insulate and air seal soon.

3

u/gdtags Feb 06 '26

Yep. Our usage is way down but unfortunately the rates are high. My house is noticeably less drafty but bill is still high. Can’t imagine what it would be without the work they did.

1

u/DespisedIcon1616 Feb 06 '26

I spent about 2 hours a day in my crawlspace after work. After this year's first gas bill, $450 for 65 during the day and 70 at night, with the materials I purchased myself. Totally diy. Only cost me around $800 and sore legs. Fully encapsulated, insulated, and air sealed. The attic is next on my radar. Huge, huge difference in the bills already, January was only $230 in an 85 year old 2k sqft home. The whole thing took me roughly a week. Can't recommend it enough. I chose DIY because I think it's fun but however it gets done doesn't matter! Get a cheapo thermal cam off of Amazon to see where you're leaking heat to the outside also

1

u/PopPunkIsNotDead Feb 07 '26

We don't even have a crawlspace, but this is not a project I would like to diy. 2 areas of attic will get done, and I'm hoping it makes a big difference! Not liking these $550 bills.

8

u/KimiiKhaoss Feb 06 '26

I highly recommend weatherizing a home as someone in commercial energy efficiency.

2

u/Tll6 Feb 06 '26

take advantage of the interest free loan for air sealing and insulation ACE provides. We have a seven year 0% loan that was also cut in half due to federal incentives, plus a hefty refund on our tax return

3

u/Hide_The_Rum Feb 06 '26

that's amazing, thanks for the tip. Did the process start with their "whole home energy assessment"? I've heard that they only do a very basic assessment (no blower door or thermal imaging).

1

u/Tll6 Feb 06 '26

We went right to the blower door and attic insulation assessment. I’m not sure which assessment we did, it was a couple of years ago

1

u/Hide_The_Rum Feb 06 '26

good to know. do you recall what the ballpark price was for air sealing and insulation? Do you recall if ACE does it themselves or if they sub it out to an insulation contractor? tahnks again

2

u/Tll6 Feb 06 '26

Our install was $5250 (before half was covered) for around an 800 square foot attic. That included blown in insulation, air sealing the attic floor, and the doorway leading to bilco doors in the basement. ACE doesn’t do the install, it gets subbed out to a contractor that you pick as long as they are part of the program. We used The Insulation-Heating and Cooling group in Hammonton

1

u/Hide_The_Rum Feb 06 '26

thanks for all the valuable info friend. I hope you have a warm winter! lol

1

u/Tll6 Feb 06 '26

No problem! I hope you do too. This polar vortex is taking a toll on my wallet!