My Highest Power Bill in 24 Years: What January 2026 Taught Me About Owning an All-Electric Home in Williamsburg

Feb 16 '26 February 16, 2026

By John Womeldorf, A.K.A. Mr. Williamsburg

I’ve lived in the same house in Williamsburg for more than 24 years.

Same address.
Same basic lifestyle.
Same electric provider.
Same general habits.

So when my January–February 2026 power bill came in, I knew immediately:

This was not normal.

It was the highest electric bill I’ve ever had.

Not by a little.
By a lot.

And I decided it was worth sharing — because this is the kind of real-life homeownership detail most people never think about until it catches them off guard.

📊 What My Bill Actually Showed

All of my electricity is supplied by Dominion Energy. Here’s what my data showed:

12-month average (2025–2026): $224.59/month
About three years ago: ~$178/month
Increase over time: roughly $45/month

So even before this winter, my costs had already been creeping up.

Then came January 2026.

Winter Comparison

From my usage history:

Jan–Feb 2025 (previous winter):

~2,010 kWh
Bill: ~$269

Jan–Feb 2026 (this winter):

~3,177 kWh
Bill: $499.64

That’s:

➡️ Nearly 60% more electricity used
➡️ Almost double the cost

In 24 years, I’ve never seen anything like it.

🏠 The Reality of My House

For context, here’s what I’m working with:

Built: 1980
All electric (no natural gas)
Heat pump: 16 years old
Crawlspace: Encapsulated
Windows: Replaced ~10 years ago
Two-story home
One HVAC system
One thermostat

This is not a neglected house.

It’s been maintained.
It’s been improved.
It’s been cared for.

But it’s still a 1980, all-electric home — and this winter pushed it hard.

❄️ Why January 2026 Was So Expensive

1. Heat Pumps Struggle in Prolonged Cold

Heat pumps pull heat from outside air.

When temperatures stay below freezing for weeks, that becomes inefficient.

So what happens?

Efficiency drops
Defrost cycles increase
Backup strip heat turns on
The system runs constantly

Electric strip heat is basically a giant space heater in your ductwork.

It works.
It’s reliable.
It’s expensive.

And it ran a lot in January.

🌡️ A Note on My Thermostat Settings

I want to be clear about something.

This wasn’t caused by cranking the heat to 72° or 74°.

During the winter, I keep our thermostat at:

68° during the day
65° at night

And I’ve done that for years.

Because of the age and design of my system, the upstairs sadly still runs warmer than the main level — which is common in older two-story homes with a single HVAC system. Heat rises, and without zoning, it’s difficult to balance both floors evenly.

So even with conservative settings, the system still worked overtime in January.

This wasn’t comfort creep.

It was sustained cold pushing the equipment beyond its efficient range.

2. One System for Two Floors (Older Design)

My house has:

One system
One thermostat
Two levels

That was common in the 1980s.

It’s not ideal.

Heat rises.
Cold settles.
Upstairs and downstairs behave differently.

So the system runs longer trying to balance both — and burns more power doing it.

Newer homes often have:

Zoned systems
Multiple thermostats
Motorized dampers

When I replace my system, that will be part of the upgrade.

3. Insulation Still Matters (Even With Upgrades)

Yes, my crawlspace is encapsulated.
Yes, my windows were replaced.

Both help.

But I still need more attic insulation.

Homes from 1980 simply weren’t built to today’s standards. In prolonged cold, every weak spot shows up on your bill.

⚡ A Big Misconception: “It Must Be the Rates”

Over the past few months, I’ve seen people say:

“My bill doubled. Dominion must have raised rates.”

I understand the instinct.

When you see a $400–$500 bill, you look for someone to blame.

But in my case — and in most I’ve reviewed — that’s not what happened.

Rates did not suddenly double.

Usage did.

My winter usage jumped from about 2,010 kWh to 3,177 kWh.

That’s the story.

When you use 60% more electricity, your bill follows.

No mystery.
No hidden switch.
No conspiracy.

Just a system running nonstop in extreme cold.

If your bill jumps, ask first:

“Did I use more power?”

Look at your kWh.
That tells the truth.

🔥 Important Disclaimer: My House Is Not Typical

This matters.

My home is:

✔ 100% electric
✔ Heat pump only
✔ No gas backup

In much of Greater Williamsburg:

Many homes have natural gas
Many use gas furnaces
Many are dual-fuel
Some use heat pumps only upstairs

Those homes usually see:

➡️ Lower winter electric usage
➡️ Less reliance on strip heat
➡️ More stable winter bills

So my experience is real — but it’s especially relevant to all-electric homes like mine.

📈 Why My Average Has Been Rising Anyway

Looking back:

~2022: ~$178/month
2026: ~$224/month

That’s not just weather.

It’s:

Aging equipment
Higher utility costs over time
More extreme weather swings
Longer heating and cooling seasons

Energy costs are becoming a bigger part of homeownership than many people expect.

🌡️ One Thing I’d Love to See

What I’d really like — and what utilities don’t make easy — is a clean, side-by-side temperature comparison for the last three winters.

My sense is:

2023–24 = Mild
2024–25 = Normal
2025–26 = Unusually cold

That context matters.

Without it, people assume the house is inefficient, when sometimes the truth is:

“The weather just crushed you.”

🛠️ What I’m Doing About It

This winter made me serious about:

Adding attic insulation
Planning for HVAC replacement
Moving toward zoning/dampers
Improving air distribution
Reviewing thermostat strategy

When I replace my system, I’ll almost certainly move to:

✔ More efficient equipment
✔ Better floor-by-floor control
✔ Better comfort
✔ More predictable costs

That’s the long-term fix.

💡 What Buyers Should Learn From This

When I’m helping buyers now, I pay much closer attention to:

Heating type
Fuel source
System age
Zoning
Insulation
Past utility averages

Because this matters.

Your mortgage is fixed.
Your power bill is not.

Two similar homes can differ by $200+ per month in winter.

That affects affordability more than most people realize.

Why I Write Posts Like This

I’m at a stage in my career where I’m thinking long-term.

Someday, I will retire.

When that day comes, I don’t want my experience to disappear with me.

I want there to be a permanent library of practical, honest information that still helps people — whether I’m actively selling homes or not.

That’s why I write posts like this.

Not to impress.
Not to chase clicks.
Not to follow trends.

But to answer the real questions:

“What does it cost to live here?”
“What surprises homeowners?”
“What don’t listings tell me?”
“What should I plan for long-term?”

This is the stuff that matters.

Final Thoughts from Mr. Williamsburg

In 24 years, I’ve never seen a bill like January–February 2026:

Nearly 3,200 kWh
Nearly $500
During the coldest stretch I can remember

Not because I was careless.
Not because my house is “bad.”

Because an older, all-electric home with a 16-year-old heat pump got pushed to its limits.

And electricity isn’t cheap when that happens.

This experience reinforced something I’ve told clients for years:

A home isn’t just about what it costs to buy.
It’s about what it costs to live in.

If you’re buying, selling, or planning ahead and want honest insight into real-world ownership costs, I’m always happy to talk it through.

📞 Call/Text: 757-254-8136
📧 John@MrWilliamsburg.com
🌐 https://mrwilliamsburg.com

Your home should be comfortable — and as predictable as possible — even in the coldest winter in decades.