I cook with gas and don't know the answer to your question, Jasdip, but I thought I'd chime in because I signed up for a plan with a slightly higher-than-normal rate during the day but free electricity from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. It took some adjusting to do my laundry (and run the dishwasher) in the evenings, but I've been happy with my electricity bills. I've had this plan for a year now.

I found the link below which suggests that you would be saving energy by using an electric skillet. However, it doesn't give any numbers which would have been helpful for decision-making.

Off-topic...our electric company has started to install smart meters everywhere. They say that it is to allow remote reading, but I know that they will eventually use the data to parse out usage, charging more for peak. I work from home, so I already get penalized because I use more water and electricity than someone who is gone all day. Anyway, I was able to opt out from the smart meter installation for a time, but I'm sure they will eventually make me put one in.

Here is a link that might be useful: Suggestions

I forgot to say that the biggest power savings for me was switching incandescent light bulbs over to fluorescent or LEDs. I saw a significant decrease. I also unplugged any appliance not in daily use.

have gas so can't say about the electric skillet...had one years ago that I used quite a lot, but as we're down to 2 now, it just wouldn't be effective...

at the high point of winter, we managed between gas and electric nearly $500! but to save even higher costs (broken or frozen pipes) I ran a space heater in the kitchen for weeks...

Hi Susan,
The only other plans we have on hydro are the Direct-Energy, independent type plans, who are door-to-door salesmen, and rip-off artists. I'd love to have "free" hydro evenings and weekends. I don't run anything heavy-duty in the evening, but I do weekends.

F2BH, they installed Smart-meters here, in 2011, no one had any options not to have them. Not everyone wanted them either. Small businesses who are only open during the day don't see any savings what-so-ever, as they are peak all the time. Now that summer will soon be upon us, their costs go up with air-conditioning.

They keep raising our rates where it isn't much between on and off-peak, but any savings is better than none.

I have the squirly bulbs, except in the bathroom. I can put them in there too, except the lite is seldom on, but for 15 minutes a day when hubby showers. I don't know why he needs the light on when he showers, I don't have it on. From what I understand, they shouldn't be in lights that are on for just a short period of time.

I have 2 livingroom lights on timers for the evening and they have the cfl's in them as they are on for about 3-4 hours.

I don't know if they save money, but I like my electric skillets. None are coated. We only have one light on in the evening and that is when he is in the family room watching television. I don't use a light much in my room only when I get up at night.

Sue

I have an electric fry pan and an electric wok. I have not used either in so many years I don't remember the last time. I used the wok more because it held a lot. The thing I disliked was how difficult it was to clean them since you can not submerge them in water. If the new ones were able to be submerged to clean that would make a world of difference.
Heck I have not even seen them since I moved here, I might have given them away on the last move.
I do absolutely love my Aroma Cooker though and use it very often to cook an entire meal in one pot and since the liner pot comes out it is super easy to clean.
I use my slow cooker a lot also. I do not like crock pots that do not have a removable inside. I no longer have any crock pots that are the type with a crock that is not removable I gave them all away.
The aroma cooker I can have a complete meal made with in half an hour in one pot. Can't beat that. I use it weekly and the slow cooker almost as often. The Aroma cooker I have is the one that allows you to saute your meat and veggies or what ever needs browning and sauteed right in the pot on the saute and simmer setting. So no using a skillet on the stove to brown before hand, It does it all, brown then add the remaining ingredients and it automatically cooks and then turns it to keep warm. I have modelARC-1010SB. But they have now come out with an egg shaped model that does every thing including a slow cooker mode and cake, oatmeal, and soup modes. I do cook soup in mine but would love that slow cooker mode.
ARC-620SB
I got mine as a Christmas gift but I would sure buy it again, actually I would buy the new egg shaped one.
There are lots of great recipes available for them. It should be called a Multi cooker.

In place of an electric skillet, have you thought about getting a single burner induction cooktop? It plugs in and sits on the countertop.

Here is a link that might be useful: induction burner

The only other plans we have on hydro are the Direct-Energy, independent type plans, who are door-to-door salesmen, and rip-off artists.

Actually, that's how I got my present plan. :-)

I know there have been a lot of complaints about some of them, but I'm here to say they're not all rip-off artists. I'm happy I signed up for two years with mine. In addition to the free evenings, I received a $50 credit card. The company is actually called Direct Energy. So many of the companies have similar names.....Energy Direct, etc.

If you're looking for hydro conservation...use a microwave. There are very few cooking restrictions with them nowadays...and with a microwave cookbook...you'll be set for anything you find palatable....including stews, sauces, veggies, desserts, etc. I wouldn't be without mine and my small toaster oven. They've saved me a lot of money over the years. Considering that I live in an all electric 1700 sq.ft. townhouse...saving on electrical costs is a major issue with me so I empathize BIG time.

Anne

Jas, I have no idea of the price of an electric skillet any place, but found this one at one sale a day.

Here is a link that might be useful: electric skillet

I bought an counter-top roaster that had never been used at a yard sale last fall for $10. I finally used it for the first time last nite and made Chicken with 40 cloves garlic.
It turned out great. The appliance is oval, so I don't have any baking dishes that will fit inside to I'm limited to things that can be cooked inside the actual cooking vessel. But roasts, and stews will work. I'll have to think of other meals I can use it for.

I'm really loving the idea of an induction hotplate. I did some searching, and one of our major stores carries one that was on an informercial (Nuwave PIC) for $120, the restaurant supply store has one for $199, that price is definitely out of the question.

Thanks for those suggestions, Raven. I've been looking for something just like the Aroma cookers.

you are welcome!

Jasdip try doing a google search for the induction burner I was looking recently and found a lot of very nice ones for under a hundred. But the one I had seen on tv was given a very poor rating as was the company , over charging on credit cards etc.
I keep seeing those kinds of complaints on just about all those as seen on tv items. But I have bought some of them in stores where I can actually see it and return it if need be and not pay shipping.
The Max Burton brand has lots of great reviews and some are very reasonably priced. Aroma also has one of these induction cooktops, I have no experience with them at all but here is one at amazon.
Aroma AID-509 Induction Cooktop

Raven, your timing remarkable! LOL I was just noodling around Amazon.ca and saw an Aroma burner for $70.

The U.S. Target store shows an induction burner on their website in store, but I called our Canadian store and they don't carry them. The Canadian Target site sucks, they don't show any store inventory, you have to go to the actual store. Hmmmph.

I'm still researching, but very few stores seem to carry these little novel, nifty gadgets.

jasdip - we also have the Smart Metre - and of course were one of the "lucky" 10,000 households to get to try one out for more than a year (you know that aggravated me no end).

Our electricity rates are also going up. Then there is the horror of the natural gas increase that is expected to be 40%. Our furnace and water heater run on natural gas. Our oven is electric, but our cooktop is gas with an electric start.

I don't use a crockpot because due to food issues I wouldn't be able to eat the foods prepared in one. But I do like the look of that Induction Cooktop - I wonder if I could make my custard on that. Just last week I was looking at those little electric hotplates but I knew that the heat would not be high enough.

Re lightbulbs, I will admit to having a supply of incandescent bulbs. I hate the CFL's. Fortunately I like the dark and have little plugged in.

We do try and limit operation of the washer/dryer (and we only use the dryer for sheets) and dishwasher to non-peak times. But I will not go to bed with the dishwasher or other major appliance other than the useless fridge operating. I do leave front and side outdoor lights on at night, but there is a reason for that. Hate to do it, but it is what it is.

It is very frustrating that we see so many things on U.S. websites that are not carried in Canada, or if they are, cost twice the price - and without a coupon.

I did look at an electric pressure cooker - I think the cost was $500 plus tax.

If you find a good deal on an induction one-pot holder, please let me know.

By the way, it is cold and wet in Toronto. We went to Ottawa for Easter - it was cold. I did make an appointment today to have the all season tires put on - for May 3, just in case. I picked up the dog this morning - and we both got soaked. Nothing is as affectionate as a wet, white dog.

Oh Eccentric, I'd so love to sit and have a coffee with you!!!! I love your posts because you "get it".

Natural gas users here are getting reamed, and hydro had to follow suit so that they could rape users as well.

I have a number of incandescent bulbs, because I also dislike the CFL's. I don't like the light, even high-wattage aren't bright enough for me. I've replaced a few of them and they sure haven't been installed for 7 years (the length of life they are to last).

I haven't used a dryer in 7 years........we use a clothes rack out on the balcony in the winter, where the clothes freeze then we bring them in and let them dry.....they smell so fresh! Summertime is either the rack, or on the outdoor clothesline.

I'm still doing research on the induction hotplates, and reportedly get as low as to melt chocolate and make rice pudding. Even on level 1, rice pudding always boils over on my stove. Your custard should be perfect.

Yesterday was 23......I was hot! Too hot for me already, so soon in the year. Today quite a bit colder, windy and damp.

Hmmmmm I love dogs, but not when they're wet. I don't like the wet doggy smell.

This was an impulse purchase and have only had it for a while, when I saw it at Costco I bought it. I hated using a huge oven for a small meal. The big one is great when I get into a cooking frenzy and make a lot of big meals and break them down and freeze them. I am talking two or three days of baking back to back. I have made meat loaf, fish fillets, date squares, muffins, biscuits, and cookies, egg rolls that I had made and frozen came out perfect, The oven costs are all over the place ...I got it for $79.99 at Costco. Home Depot has it around 125.00. Here is a link ..sears has a demo which I added....I love the fact the kitchen is not sweltering while I am getting meals ready. The only thing was toasting garlic bread took a little longer than under the broiler. No biggie....AND it shuts itself off when the timer runs out. BIG plus for me. Waiting for a hydro bill to see if it cut down any, Will be interesting.

Here is a link that might be useful: convection oven

This was an impulse purchase and have only had it for a while, when I saw it at Costco I bought it. I hated using a huge oven for a small meal. The big one is great when I get into a cooking frenzy and make a lot of big meals and break them down and freeze them. I am talking two or three days of baking back to back. I have made meat loaf, fish fillets, date squares, muffins, biscuits, and cookies, egg rolls that I had made and frozen came out perfect, The oven costs are all over the place ...I got it for $79.99 at Costco. Home Depot has it around 125.00. Here is a link ..sears has a demo which I added....I love the fact the kitchen is not sweltering while I am getting meals ready. The only thing was toasting garlic bread took a little longer than under the broiler. No biggie....AND it shuts itself off when the timer runs out. BIG plus for me. Waiting for a hydro bill to see if it cut down any, Will be interesting.

Here is a link that might be useful: convection oven

A few years ago I bought a couple of them at Aldi's, the convection ovens that is. I still use them from time to time. I think the price then was $39 and when I bought the second one it was marked down to $29. At that time my big oven was having major problems and we never did get it fixed. They are the Crofton brand and I find them to be worth the money.

Sue

jasdip - yes coffee would be great (as long as it was Coca-Cola regular - I am one of the haters of coffee and tea!).

I make Bird's custard every day using Harmony 1% organic milk and I eat the whole recipe. I like it warm. If an induction hotplate could make rice pudding then it probably would make Bird's custard as well. I will continue the search.

Yes, the wet dog smell is awful - I guess I should be grateful that his breed does not smell at all when dry - although I really miss the "fragrance" of eau de hound (my Dachshunds were the loves of my life).

It is very cold in Toronto - with more to come. I was out with the little devil - winter hat and scarf. People are going by wearing parkas with hoods. It is going to be a bad year for me.

Re cooking, we have a small Breville toaster oven - it was not cheap - but then neither were the other ones that "toasted" themselves. I would rather have purchased the larger unit but we have a serious space issue - the only other spot would be right next to the gas cooktop - and there is a warning about that. I remember back in the 1960s my aunt had a great toaster oven - heavy and it made the perfect meatloaf but then things were different then!

I have quite the supply of incandescent bulbs - they sold out fast in Toronto once the word got out.

I am dreading next year's bills...

alisande - re Direct Energy. It is the same company - or there are Canadian and U.S. versions of it (much like Amex).

A few years ago everybody was signing up for electrical and natural gas contracts (before the slimy door-to-door people started coming around).

But things have changed. We did not get any "free" time and since the introduction of the Smart Metres, we no longer get our electricity at X rate - but at 3 different rates based on time of usage. Hydro gave me a number to call to ask about this because after all Direct Energy (and the other companies offering contracts) want to make a profit. When we get our bill we can see the split. Unfortunately my husband put the last bill "somewhere" but definitely we pay considerably more per kw hour depending on use during the peak/mid/low hours.

Our last electrical contract will expire in a year and we will not be renewing. Our natural gas contract expired March 31 of this year and we did not renew.

I am dreading when the hot water heater needs to be replaced because it was installed in 2006 - and then there is the furnace installed just before then - and codes have changed so we will have to pay for all of the new venting and whatever else needs to be done.

I have one of the counter top convection ovens a nice big one I think it is a thermador or something like that? I always forget about it and it very seldom gets used. My husband keeps wanting me to get rid of it because it is taking up space.
I really need to start using it. It holds quite a bit and is a very good oven.

Apparently Amazon doesn't take Paypal. I assumed it would, since e-bay does. I'm still noodling around making a decision on which induction burner I want.

For you Canadians, I've long heard you had rather inexpensive utility costs, but maybe that's wrong? My current electricity marginal cost is 30 cents per kwh (any time of day), and natural gas is the equivalent of a bit over 50 cents per cubic meter. Aren't your rates considerably lower?

Ebay accepts Paypal payments because Paypal is a subsidiary of Ebay. Paypal takes a cut of payments it handles. Amazon doesn't accept it because they don't have to and they thereby avoid the cost. Your credit card information is no less safe with Amazon than with Paypal.

snidely - when the next bills arrive I will post what we are paying. I have one page of each but of course the main info is not there. There are the hydro rates based on time of day and a charge for hydro's debt repayment etc. and then we have our natural gas. The actual bill is quite long - Customer Charge, the Delivery to You charge, the Cost Adjustment, the Transportation charge to Enbridge and the Gas Supply Charge - this is the biggie - and then we get to add our 13% taxes to a major part of it. Natural gas is going up 40%. We are on the budget billing plan and we will have to make up the shortfall in June and it will be $$$, especially after this past winter and the cold weather we are currently experiencing. Now if only we were getting a tax refund - we aren't - will have to pay again. I want to claim the dog!

raven - definitely use that counter top convection oven. I think you will be really happy with it.

jasdip - so have you narrowed down which induction cooktop we will be buying? I saw one on the Williams Sonoma website - it was reduced from $700 to just under $500 U.S. (can you imagine what it would cost here - plus taxes?) - and it was for only one burner. I don't use PayPal - actually I generally do not order anything online. You can bet it would be defective, the wrong item - or it would be stolen despite my best efforts to pay for signature required. Of course it would be nice if you tried out a unit first....

I have this one, Max Burton 6000 1800-Watt Portable Induction Cooktop. It sits on the counter all the time.

Here is a link that might be useful: Max Burton 6000 1800-Watt Portable Induction Cooktop

Jasdip, I saw an induction cooktop at Costco for under $100. I almost bought it but thought I didn't need another appliance to store in my kitchen.

In Windsor we just switched over to time of use and I am waiting for my first bill to see how I did. Up until then my rate was 0.083 kwh. The prices will be going up May 1st which shows in the link below to Windsor's water and electricity rates.

I had a credit of $196 in March when we changed over to time of use so I didn't have to pay my bill. I generally use less than 195 kwh in the winter and that is with my 46 year old furnace running. My equal billing plan went from $100 to $110 per month starting with my April bill.

I do most of my cooking in the off peak time after 7 pm and along with the rest of my chores. I just changed over some of my CFLs to LED bulbs and I seem to prefer the LED light. I still have one tri light CFL I bought almost 20 years ago that I still use everyday.

It is the taxes and the debt retirement charge that I don't like on our bills. Sure we get that 10 percent rebate every month but they need to get rid of the HST.

I like that my new computer has a 9 hour battery life so if I have to use it during the day I am off the grid and charge it during off peak hours.

My problem is when I let the dog out at night I forget to turn off the porch light and that still has an incandescent bulb in it because I can't reach it to change the bulb until I get a step stool.

Here is a link to Windsor's Enwin Utilities rates. Not sure if the new rates are listed yet.

Here is a link that might be useful: Windsor's Electricity Rates

Here is a link to Ontario's Time of Use Smart Meters

Here is a link that might be useful: Ontario Time of Use

Thanks for the heads-up of Costco carrying the burner, Cherryfizz.

As she shows, our off-peak cost is 7.2 cents, mid-peak is 10.2 and full rate is 12.9 cents.

The last hike in November raised all 3 rates, with the off-peak taking the most jump. The rates will rise again May 1.

They are definitely considerably less than Snidely's rates of 30 cents! I wrote a letter to the editor b1tching about the rates and increases when everything we read says the average homeowner will have an increase of $2 per month. With just the 2 of us, in an apt, with no a/c, dishwasher, our hydro bill increased by $15/month in the past 12 months, thru no fault of our own.

Cherryfizz, they are taking off the debt retirement, but also removing the 10% rebate, and we'll be paying more money going forward.

This post was edited by jasdip on Sat, Apr 26, 14 at 8:19

I'd love to have those electricity rates, we haven't seen average prices like that here in a very long time. I think the difference is that much of our power is from gas combustion and most of yours is hydroelectric.

I'm going to the store later to see if I can find an extension cord to use. I'll be contacting you if I find one long enough.