Frolic in the summertime


What is the greatest thing that has happened in our home this summer? It's not Norah getting teeth, I can tell you that.

Possibly the greatest single event that has revolutionized our home and made summer in Arizona that much more bearable happened when I called the electric company and switched my on-peak/off-peak hours to their new plan. Really, if APS is your company, pay attention.

It used to be that the on-peak hours at our house--meaning the time when electricity costs were sky-high--were from 9 in the morning to 9 at night. That meant that the first thing I ever did in the morning on the way out of my bedroom was grab a load of laundry and get it in the washing machine. There was a time when I was vigilant and got the daily load washed and dried before nine, but it has been a while since that happened. Lately, I had been washing it before nine, but drying would cross over into the pricey hours of 9, 10, 11. What a waste--of our money going to pay the electric bills. And don't even ask about the guilt I felt running the A/C all hours of the day. Well, times have changed. The new, much more friendly for stay-at-homers energy plan has on-peak hours from just noon until 7! I have 5 more hours of freedom to run the dishwasher, dry the clothes, revel in cold air conditioning each day. When noon comes around, if it is not too humid, I turn on the swamp cooler and let it run for a few hours (a mere 7), and we save oh-so-much money. (Maybe. I haven't actually had that verified with a bill, yet. But regardless, my guilt levels are way down.)

I just wanted to share with you why summertime has been a little lighter, a little more capricious around these parts. It's all in the energy plan. You ought to try it. Now, about Norah's teething issues. . . .

Comments

Paper Shop ink. said…
Hey Emily! I wanted to let you know you won the Paper Shop ink Contest.
June 25, 2007 12:07 PM
Anonymous said…
dang. you win everything! what's your secret?
June 25, 2007 12:55 PM
Courtney said…
Emily - you do win everything.

I love the 7-noon plan. I feel like I have so much more time to get stuff done.
June 25, 2007 1:00 PM
abby said…
Can you really last 7 hours without the a/c? That is impressive.

My jaw is to the floor right now due to the fact that you won ANOTHER giveaway. (But I'm happy for you in jealous way...)
June 25, 2007 3:12 PM
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