DTE SMART Meters. Watch OUT!

[gvidas]

~12kWh/month = ~400 watts/day, or about 16.6 watts/hour if constant over 24 hours.

Ohm's law tells us that, at 120 V, you would require about 0.14 amps to produce 17 watts of power. So, you're looking at a phantom draw about on par with leaving a cell phone charger plugged in 24/7.

Point being, if you're serious about saving money on your electric bill, buy a Kill-a-watt meter and take a close look at the devices you leave always plugged in. Many common devices draw power even when they are not "on."

[[Also, I don't entirely buy their "wind blowing spins the fan" story; more likely, there's a transformer in the AC for a control circuit that is drawing power.)

[Meddle]

more likely, there's a transformer in the AC for a control circuit that is drawing power.

Most likely.

[wolverine]

~12kWh/month = ~400 watts/day, or about 16.6 watts/hour if constant over 24 hours.

Ohm's law tells us that, at 120 V, you would require about 0.14 amps to produce 17 watts of power. So, you're looking at a phantom draw about on par with leaving a cell phone charger plugged in 24/7.

Point being, if you're serious about saving money on your electric bill, buy a Kill-a-watt meter and take a close look at the devices you leave always plugged in. Many common devices draw power even when they are not "on."

[[Also, I don't entirely buy their "wind blowing spins the fan" story; more likely, there's a transformer in the AC for a control circuit that is drawing power.)

My utility provider swapped out my old-school surge protectors for new ones that shut off when no one is detected in the home. I've saved quite a bit of money since. It's amazing how much power appliances draw when you think they aren't in use but on stand-by