SAFETY & ENERGY

Electricity Doesn't Take a Vacation

Don't assume that when you leave on vacation your electric meter stops until you return home. If you are gone two weeks, you might expect the bill to be much smaller than it usually is.

With this in mind, consider the following questions:

Was the water heater turned off? If it wasn't, it continued to keep the water at the usual temperature. Even though water wasn't being used, heat was lost through the tank, and the water heater continued to heat as usual.
Was the refrigerator unplugged? If it wasn't it continued to use electricity to keep food cold, and if it has a frost-free freezer, it continued to cycle daily, defrosting the frost on the coils and then cooling them again every few minutes.
Were any other electrical devices still connected such as clocks, dehumidifiers, pumps and automatic lighting devices? Was the thermostat set back? Even though you're not home, these appliances are still working for you.

If you are determined that no electricity is to be used during your vacation, you must disconnect the main fuse or breaker at the main entrance box. Keep in mind that your automatic appliances will stop, your refrigerator and freezer will be defrosted and the dehumidifier will not free the basement of moisture. If your water heater is electric, you will also come home to cold water.

Keep in mind that most vacationers return home with one or two weeks' worth of laundry to wash! In this case, the water heater gets a good workout the first few days at home.

Remember, even though you are away from home, the electrical requirement for power in the home still exists and, unless you make some disconnects before leaving, your electric meter will not slow very much.