Home AC question re: Cost?

[brutal]

OK, so I'm dredging up this old thread from last year to post an update:

We had AC installed by Front Range Mechanical, at the recommendation of a member here. The sales guy was very professional, went all around the house and showed me multiple options at various costs.

His estimate was also the lowest, by a pretty good margin.

Our total cost to install was about $5300, of which we got $600 back from Xcel as a rebate once our system was tested and found to be efficient (I think it is 13 SEER but I'd have to double check the paperwork.) That was actually somewhat lower than I'd expected - my mom got AC installed in her small condo about 15 years ago and paid $4000 so I figured we'd be $6000 - $7000 easy. I was pleasantly surprised.)

Because of the cool and rainy spring, we didn't even turn on our AC until late June when it started to get hot. We tried to use the system sporadically, leaving it off at night with the windows open but after a while that became too much work so we just left it on.

Our first bill in early August was for $117, up from $83 the previous year, but as I said, we weren't using AC a lot. Our second, using AC quite a bit more, was for $142, up from $80 from the previous year. According to our bill (Xcel shows "per day" usage for both the current month and the same month last year) our per-day electric use went from $2.05 to $3.66.

Bottom line, although the initial cost was high (we used our tax refund), I think it will add at least that much to the value of the house when it is time to sell, so IMO that justifies the expense right there (especially if we're selling in mid-summer.)

And per-day costs? $1.61/day to be in a cool and comfortable house is worth it to me. Wife (who was skeptical at first, just based on the cost) is happy too, particularly on those very hot days we had in July and August. Happy wife = happy life, right?

Anyway, I'm glad we did it. Would definitely recommend Front Range Mechanical if you are in the market for AC.

They should have commissioned the unit when it was consistently over 70*. Our HVAC guys came back out a month or so after install to check it and had to add some refrigerant to our new unit.

Our IREA bill is usually pretty high anyway, and we're also cooling an RV that's being lived in. Aug and Sep billis are insane with the extra hot weather we've had. Comparatively, my current bill over last year was $53 more for the month (33 billings days?) with the new A/C v.s. running a whole house fan all night, so $1.60/day more here as well, but those extra heat days caused much of the increase too.

[Great-Kazoo]

They should have commissioned the unit when it was consistently over 70*. Our HVAC guys came back out a month or so after install to check it and had to add some refrigerant to our new unit.

Our IREA bill is usually pretty high anyway, and we're also cooling an RV that's being lived in. Aug and Sep billis are insane with the extra hot weather we've had. Comparatively, my current bill over last year was $53 more for the month (33 billings days?) with the new A/C v.s. running a whole house fan all night, so $1.60/day more here as well, but those extra heat days caused much of the increase too.

Does IREA offer different billing options? I know APS down here believes your KwH usage is worth every penny, till you look at the options they offer. By doing some homework and talking to APS we've dropped the summer average down $45 - $50 per month.

I "think" rural power companies slam you hard, in the warmer months, as most rural homes have propane heat, stoves and driers. So come cooler weather (depending on area) their cash cow dies off.

[brutal]

Does IREA offer different billing options? I know APS down here believes your KwH usage is worth every penny, till you look at the options they offer. By doing some homework and talking to APS we've dropped the summer average down $45 - $50 per month.

I "think" rural power companies slam you hard, in the warmer months, as most rural homes have propane heat, stoves and driers. So come cooler weather (depending on area) their cash cow dies off.

IREA does offer "Budget billing." Not on a fixed income per se so no big deal when summer is higher.

We moved to a dual fuel range/oven so no more electric cooktop, but still the oven. We also have an electric clothes drier, water and heat on Nat Gas of course. Nat Gas is SOOOO freaking cheap to run. I heard NYC wants to ban gas stoves. LOL.

Our bill has also gotten larger thanks to the EPA and gubmint minimum "renewable sources" requirements and the fact they don't count hydro as renewable. IREA is a coop too and tried to sue their way out of it but lost (go figure.)

WTF we don't start cranking out Gen IV Nuclear power plants for the forthcoming EV tidal wave is beyond my simple mind to grasp.