5 Tips for Saving Money on Your Electric Bill With the Right Company

 

 
Shrinking your electricity bill requires a combination of factors. Start with an energy audit. Many utility companies offer this for free.

Energy-efficient appliances and a direct load control program can save you money. Ask about these and other energy-saving measures offered by your electric company.

Unplugging household items like coffee makers and charging cables can also save money. A smart thermostat and motion sensors can also reduce your electric usage.

Look for a Company That Offers Year-Round Discounts

Utility costs, especially the electric bill, comprise a significant portion of many household budgets. If looking at your electric bill fills you with more dread than swimming with sharks, it may be time to take action.

Look for a company that offers year-round discounts to help you save on your energy bill. Many companies offer programs to help low-income households keep their electricity bill below a certain threshold. Companies like the electric company in Dallas exist to help consumers sort through all the options and find a plan that works best for them. Other programs offer deferred payment arrangements. Some utilities also provide budget billing, which equalizes monthly payments over a year instead of seeing big increases in winter and summer.

Some companies offer incentives for choosing green energy. These programs often come at a premium over the introductory utility rate, but they can be cheaper than buying green power through an independent provider.

Check whether your city or town is participating in a community choice electric program. These programs contract with a competitive supplier to offer residents an electricity rate lower than that of the traditional utility. Many of these programs have income limits, but some do not.

Turn Down Your Thermostat

Regarding your electric bill, you can do many little things to save money. For example, you can install low-flow shower heads and use "smart" power strips that read energy usage.

But one of the best ways to reduce your electricity costs is by turning down your thermostat. This is because colder weather causes heating costs to increase, and it takes more energy to heat your home.

Many people have heard that lowering the thermostat by just two degrees helps to save energy, money, and the environment. However, the energy saved depends on the size of your house, your average set temperature, and when you perform the thermostat setbacks - such as before going to bed or leaving for work. Additionally, the actual fuel savings will also depend on the humidity level. Generally, though, you can save about 1% of your heating costs for every degree you lower the thermostat during a chilly winter.

Install Energy-Efficient Appliances

The energy cost for your appliances is a large portion of your electric bill. The good news is that there are several steps you can take to reduce this expense. For example, replacing old light bulbs with LEDs can save you a lot of money in the long run. Additionally, keeping your refrigerator and freezer well-maintained can reduce the electricity they use. Finally, running your dishwasher and washing machine at off-peak times can also help you save on your electric bill.

Many electric companies offer a free home energy audit, which can help uncover areas where you could be wasting electricity. You can also install energy-efficient appliances that reduce your utility bills and carbon footprint by ten to fifty percent. These products may be more expensive up front, but they will pay for themselves in no time. Plus, they can help ease the burden on our environment by reducing fossil fuel emissions and reducing the need for water conservation.

Unplug Devices When Not in Use

The easiest and most effective way to save energy is by unplugging devices when you're not using them. It's also a great way to protect your appliances from power surges. Unless you have a whole-house surge protection system or individual surge protectors around the house, your devices (especially refrigerators and air conditioners) regularly cause small surges. Over time, these small surges can degrade your appliances' circuitry and reduce their lifespans.

In fact, according to researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, around 10 percent of a typical household's electricity consumption can be attributed to phantom energy. This is because most appliances use a minimal amount of electricity when they're turned off.

Whether it's your phone charger, coffee maker, or microwave, unplugging these devices when you aren't using them is a great way to save money. If you find it too inconvenient to open every device manually, try getting a power strip that has a switch that you can power on and off with ease. You can also invest in a device called a Kill A Watt, which will tell you exactly how much your appliances are wasting when turned off.

Install a Smart Thermostat

Compared to standard thermostats, smart thermostats offer a variety of energy-saving features that are great for your wallet and the environment. These thermostats can provide detailed energy usage reports and help you make changes to reduce your home's energy consumption.

A smart thermostat also can help you learn your habits and make adjustments accordingly. For example, if you tend to leave your house early for work or school, the thermostat can automatically turn off your heating and cooling system at these times. Other smart thermostats can use geofencing to recognize when you are leaving or arriving at your home and adjust the temperature accordingly.

Installing a smart thermostat is pretty straightforward, but you must ensure that your current wiring setup can support the new device. A common way to do this is to check for a wire labeled "C." If you don't have a C wire, it's possible to add one using a thermostat-compatible C-wire adapter.

Before attempting to remove the backplate of your thermostat and access the wires, shut off your HVAC system at the breaker panel. This will prevent you from accidentally shorting out any electrical components of your system while working with the thermostat wires.

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