What to Do When Your Electric Bill Is Too High
Everything is fine and dandy one day, and then, boom, you receive your electricity bill, and you get a huge boost from a month ago. What’s up with your energy bill? You know you’ve been very cautious about turning on your heater and air-conditioning unit, so why is it still so eye-popping high? The reason may not be your cooling and heating units. It might be because of some other activities you do or don’t do in your home.
The US Department of Energy (DOE) said that a typical household spends about $2,000 on electricity every year. Of that amount, 29% goes to the home while the rest is divided between cooling it and operating appliances and electronics. You can read about your state’s electricity rate, so you know how to cut your energy bill.
In the meantime, the reasons your energy bill is high are similar despite the state regulations. Instead of blaming your utility provider, you can look at your activities and cut down on some things that you are overlooking. What are these things? What should you be reminded about when it comes to your power usage?
Change Your Appliances to Energy-saving Units
Most people don’t want to invest in new appliances because the cost of buying new ones is too much. The truth is that you will save thousands of dollars on an air-conditioning replacement unit rather than keep an old model. Old appliances eat energy like a 10-wheeler truck that chugs fuel. Buying a $1,000 worth of new air-conditioning unit or heater right now is still more economical than paying an extra $100 on your bill every month. You will easily recuperate the money you spent on a new appliance because your energy usage will go down.
Stop Vampire Appliances from Sucking Power
Modern appliances such as your DVR, TV, microwave oven, electric ovens, coffeemakers, and computers go on a standby mode when you click on the power button. That means they never turn off. While on standby mode, the appliances can quickly return to a scheduled task when you turn them “on.” But such convenience comes with a price. It also means that these appliances will still be using power despite being technically turned off.
What you can do is plug them in a power strip, so you only have one switch to turn off at night. You are effectively disconnecting them from power this way. It will save a lot of money because your meter won’t be running while you’re not using these appliances.
Set Your Thermostat at a Level Temperature
During cooler seasons, increase your thermostat temperature. On warmer months, turn it back down. The ideal house temperature should be between 68 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. In summer, the recommended thermostat setting should be around 78 degrees while in winter, aim for an optimal thermostat setting is around 68 degrees to save on energy cost. Of course, these temperature settings will depend on the homeowner.
Use a Wattage Tester to Gauge Your Appliances
You can use a wattage tester to compare your appliances’ energy usage and gauge how much you are going to spend on it in a year. You need to plug your appliance into the tester and let it run for 24 hours. After that, you have to multiply the result by 365 and compare that estimated annual energy usage in your state’s energy calculator.
Close the Doors and Windows
Sometimes, it is as simple as this: the air escapes through your doors and windows. This makes your appliances work harder and consume more energy. Make sure to keep your doors and windows shut to keep the heat or cold inside the room. Revolving doors can retain heat eight times better than swinging doors.
Use Lights and Ceiling Fans Effectively
People have been using lights and ceiling fans wrong. Many people do not understand that lights are only effective when they provide light directly to specific areas of the room such as the couch, coffee table, and workspaces. Ceiling lights that aim to brighten the whole room are less effective at providing ample enough light. Ceiling fans, on the other hand, do not make a room cool so it is ineffective to leave them turned on when no one’s in the room.
Do not be surprised when your electricity bill is too high. Chances are that you’re either not minding how you use your appliances, or you’ve been using old models of appliances. Utility providers will usually provide a list of appliances and their energy rating so homeowners can be guided accordingly. You should look into Texas electricity providers to see which one of them offers the most affordable rates for your home.
Meta title: Why Is Your Energy Bill Too High and What to Do About It
meta desc: If you are the type of person who dreads seeing the electric bill every month, don’t fret. You and many others go through the same emotional shock. Whether it’s an additional $10 or $20 on top of your regular bill, you need to be cautious of why it’s running high and know what you can do about it.
