The average monthly residential electricity bill for Americans stood at $111.67 in 2017, as reported by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. From powering electronics, lighting our homes, to accessing the internet, electricity plays an instrumental role in today’s modern life.
Your monthly electricity bill depends on the state you live in, the time of the year, the type of your house, the appliances you own and a variety of other factors. If your rising power bills have been troubling you, then you need to investigate what’s driving them up. Here are some reasons why your energy bill is always high.
You Haven’t Compared the Rates of Different Electricity Providers
If you haven’t been regularly looking at the electricity plans and rates of your region’s energy companies, you could be making a costly mistake. Switching electricity providers is the number one way to save money on your bills. In some places, the electricity market is deregulated, and many companies are offering competitive electricity plans. You also need to be aware of the Time-of-Use (TOU) Rates in order to minimize your bills further.
Now, many homeowners are actively comparing the terms of various electricity providers to ensure they find a plan that works best for their individual situation. To make the right choice, it’s best you visit a website that compares electricity plans. On the site, you will easily find an easy-to-read list of affordable, reliable, and transparent companies, according to Texas electricity plans.Â
Using Appliances Past Their Prime
Every item has an expiration date, even your old appliances. If you are stuck with outdated appliances, then your energy bills will hardly ever come down. Although it may be expensive to replace the still-functional kitchen equipment, it’s a wise move in the long-term.
Old appliances can make a huge dent on your electricity bill and also pose a danger to your family. You should set apart funds and start to upgrade to energy-efficient models. In fact, some newer models use four times less electricity than the older ones. The items you should consider replacing include the refrigerator, dishwasher, oven, microwave, washing machine, and dryer.
Letting Vampire Electronics to Bleed You Dry
Around seventy-five percent of the energy consumed by electronic apparatus is spent when they are shut down, as stated in The Spruce. Turning your appliances and electronics off, but keeping them plugged into the outlet heavily contributes to your rising energy bill. When off or in sleep mode, these devices draw some energy known as the phantom load.Â
To take care of this problem, invest in a smart power strip. All devices should be plugging into it, and when not in use, turn it off. This ensures your electronics are fully disconnected from the power source, and therefore they won’t waste electricity.
You are Stuck With the Old Bulbs
If you haven’t replaced your old bulbs with energy-efficient ones, it’s time to switch. Led bulbs use significantly less energy compared to incandescent bulbs, and they have a longer life-span. You can also go a step further and incorporate a smart lighting system. With just a smartphone app, you can remotely switch off your lights in case you forget to turn them off before leaving home.Â
HVAC Air Filter is Clogged
A clean HVAC air filter ensures the system is running at peak efficiency at all times, as noted in a Forbes article. A clogged filter forces your HVAC to overwork, which causes it to use more energy. This inexpensive component has a significant impact on your home’s energy consumption, and it should be changed every 30 days.
Conclusion
At first, it may be hard to decipher what items are consuming the most power in your home. To lower your next electricity bill, start by upgrading your appliances one at a time, change your bulbs, get smart power strips, replace your HVAC filter and don’t forget to compare the best electricity plans in the market.
