The highest electic bill I have ever paid was $185.00 mostly because my house is at 4600 feet. When it is 105 in Phoenix, it is 101+- in Tucson, and about 95 at my house. I only have to cool the house 18+- degrees for about 3 to 4 hours when I get home from work but longer on weekends. Compare that with what it costs to heat your place for 24 hours a day in the winter and that is a lot of bananas. I lived in Michigan for 29 years and I know what you go through. Our summer life is quite simular to your winter life. For about 4 months we go from our A/C homes to the A/C car to the A/C business but we don't have to shovel a path to get there or worry about the pipes freezing.