I am working up my budget for full timing and need to know how many KWH of electricity y'all may use per month? I have a price per KWH. I hope I am not asking a personal question.

My coach uses a lot of electricity if I am able to use the heat pumps, and we have an portable electric heat fan that we use most of the time when it's not real cold outside. We also have the combo washer/dryer that we use daily to do at least one load of laundry. While staying at the SKP park in Benson where we paid $0.165/kwH (yes, very expensive electricity, even after AZ. passed a new law to limit what RV's get charged for electricity to the same rate a single dwelling homeowner would pay, which at the time was $0.085/kwH) we paid $150 for 879 kwH. We only filled our propane when we left in February so I know we didn't use the furnace very much and would have been heating with electricity for most of our stay. Howard was in Benson at the same time we were and I know they managed their electricity far better than we did...

Keep in mind also, that your usage will vary based on how well your particular rig is insulated and whether or not you have dual pane windows and what temperature you require to be maintained. We for instance, reduce the thermostat to 60 at night when we go to bed. If you are having those kind of costs you definitely want to consider the ceramic propane heater.

I just went back and looked at our propane expenses for the almost 4 years we've been out and we averaged $25 a month for the 45 months. FWIW

I don't want to hijack the thread, but wanted to add that I try to avoid RV parks that charge separate for electricity (impossible in AZ). And I'm not comfortable adding a propane burning device like the ceramic heater to the inside of my coach, carbon monoxide poisoning scares the you know what out of me. I could use the furnace more, but the condensation can be a problem. Then I would have to add another electrical device, a dehumidifier...

I'm with Dan on the Propane heaters. I know many people use them but as a former gas company service tech I have answered way to many carbon monoxide calls on unvented heaters sending people to the hospital. They are actually ok IF USED PROPERLY. If you do use one, please make sure you have the proper amount of fresh air ventilation. I consider electric cost just part of the deal and if the park is ripping people off on cost I would look elsewhere. Dan I'm sure you will get enough different actual cost figures to help you out.

Sherri and I have an RV that is insulated to the MAX. We have double pane windows and on top of all that we have the Arizona Room. This has many windows that during the day lets in tons of sunlight. The warmth gathered here is a life saver. Last winter we did not run the furnace and our heat came from either the electric Fireplace or the electric heater in the bedroom. Keep in mind we like a cool room not warm and we do not stay in cold areas of the country. We have yet to go over $85.00 on electric @ $0.12 KWH. Now that is high and it is the highest we have paid so far. That being said...Fred is correct in saying that you have to be sure your home is insulated well to keep those cost down. Above all else...move to a milder climate and leave the cold behind...Isn't that what all this is about.

Dan, Have you personally had condensation problems, or are you going on something you heard? We use our furnace quite often and have never, ever had a condensation problem. I think it has to do with how well the rig is insulated.

We have two CO detectors with digital readouts and do use a propane ceramic heater when we need to. If we are on 30AMP electric and it gets down close to freezing we have to use the big furnace or the ceramic heater, so we use the heater. If we boondock we use the heater, it does not use battery power like the furnace does. I have only rarely seen the CO detector show anything but zero and I think the highest I have seen is "2". I tested once with the generator exhaust, it works and is loud. We try to use our two heat pumps and avoid cold weather, but sometimes it catches you. We have been down to 20 degrees in Indio, CA and down to 15 in Colorado Springs, CO with daytime highs in the 60s. The coldest was a cold snap in Santa Fe, NM down to 13. We last used the heater in northern VA in mid-October, it was cold out! We did get condensation on many windows.

Just recently went through a spell of condensation while in Kansas...outside temps in the middle 30's and rain/snow showers. Plenty of condensation on the windows. I monitored the humidity inside the coach as that normally gives me some warning, but with the high humidity outside with the rain/snow I was unable to get the humidity out of the coach. Between the cooking, furnace, showers, people and dog I just could not get the humidity below 30%. I have found that anytime the indoor humidity gets above 30% the windows start to show moisture on the frames and glass. I have to believe that using a dehumidifier would be a good way to lower the humidity level.

-- Edited by NorCal Dan on Thursday 19th of November 2009 07:02:15 PM