[jdhn]

I'd love to know what Duke is going to do. I have a 1950s block home with less than 3 inches of insulation in the attic (Duke Energy efficiency audit put it at a charitable R-11) and original windows that I was told by the HVAC person "leak like a sieve". Electric bill this month may hit $400.

[cudgy]

Original windows are likely the biggest offender. You could just replace the largest windows if budget is a concern or place plastic over the inside portion to create an “insulative” air barrier between the plastic sheet and the window. The plastic trick worked amazingly for me when renting an old farm house on a city plot. Looks ghetto ugly though.

[runnerup]

There’s clear plastic shrink wrap which truly does become nearly invisible once you run a hair dryer over it. Last one I used was “Duck” brand and worked great. People would walk up to the windows and be surprised to hit the plastic that they didn’t see.

[antisthenes]

My house is built in the 1950s as well, probably with comparable amounts of insulation.

My electric bill has never been higher than $150, and maybe $175 this summer.

Stop putting your AC on 68 and you'll have a lower bill.