How Do YOU Know How Much Electricty Al Gore Uses?

Drudge picked up a story about Al Gore energy usage - it's ripped straight from a press release that can be found here, but I'll reprint it below. I was in bed, but I had to get up to write the following email. I'll keep y'all posted on any response I get.

Hi. I run a blog and I have a couple of questions.

1. Your source for statistics about the average household is obvious and I was able to look it up myself from your link. But where did you get the information on Mr. Gore's energy usage? Does the Nashville Electric Service supply this kind of information to anyone upon request, about anyone? Or did someone violate company policy? If so, why did you not identify them in the release as "an unnamed source?"

2. How many rooms does the average American household have?

3. While the average American household uses 10,656 kWh a year, it looks like in Tennessee that number is around 15,000. Why not compare the Gore household to other local households, considering they use 1.5 times more than average?

4. How do you respond to charges that while you claim to be non-partisan, you appear with this story to have a political agenda? And since you normally attack government waste and pork projects, why go after Al Gore, who does not hold a public office?

I appreciate your time and attention to these questions. The "blogosphere" has run with this story and having put it out there, it will be to your credit to add details where needed.

Original Press Release:

For Immediate Release: February 26, 2007

For Further Information, Contact:
Nicole Williams, (615) 383-6431
editor@tennesseepolicy.org

Al Gore’s Personal Energy Use Is His Own “Inconvenient Truth”
Gore’s home uses more than 20 times the national average

Last night, Al Gore’s global-warming documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, collected an Oscar for best documentary feature, but the Tennessee Center for Policy Research has found that Gore deserves a gold statue for hypocrisy.

Gore’s mansion, located in the posh Belle Meade area of Nashville, consumes more electricity every month than the average American household uses in an entire year, according to the Nashville Electric Service (NES).

In his documentary, the former Vice President calls on Americans to conserve energy by reducing electricity consumption at home.

The average household in America consumes 10,656 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, according to the Department of Energy. In 2006, Gore devoured nearly 221,000 kWh—more than 20 times the national average.

Last August alone, Gore burned through 22,619 kWh—guzzling more than twice the electricity in one month than an average American family uses in an entire year. As a result of his energy consumption, Gore’s average monthly electric bill topped $1,359.

Since the release of An Inconvenient Truth, Gore’s energy consumption has increased from an average of 16,200 kWh per month in 2005, to 18,400 kWh per month in 2006.

Gore’s extravagant energy use does not stop at his electric bill. Natural gas bills for Gore’s mansion and guest house averaged $1,080 per month last year.

“As the spokesman of choice for the global warming movement, Al Gore has to be willing to walk the walk, not just talk the talk, when it comes to home energy use,” said Tennessee Center for Policy Research President Drew Johnson.

In total, Gore paid nearly $30,000 in combined electricity and natural gas bills for his Nashville estate in 2006.


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The Tennessee Center for Policy Research is an independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan research organization committed to achieving a freer, more prosperous Tennessee through free market policy solutions.