Tips to Tame Your Electric Bill
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that most households spend approximately $2,200 annually on utilities. Of those utilities, energy bills cost about 2.7% of your income. There are lots of ways – big and small – to cut those bills and keep more of that income from making its way to the electric company.
What Does My Energy Bill Include?
It’s easy to miss some of the ways you use electricity. For instance, heating water comprises about 13% of the average American’s residential electricity bill. 5% of electricity produced in America is used by air conditioners. For most Texans, those numbers are even higher: about 18% of the average residential electricity bill is A/C use and another 18% is water heating. The Department of Energy found that about 22% of all electricity is used for light fixtures. In some cases, more than half of the electricity you pay for is being used by appliances that are off but plugged in.
How Can I Lower My Electric Bill?
Thankfully, there are many ways to make your energy bill more affordable. One popular option is installing a programmable thermostat. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said using a programmable thermostat can save you about $180 annually. Programmable and app-controlled thermostats can even help track your electricity usage. Knowing how you’re using your electricity dollars can help you know where you use less and save on your monthly bill.
Additional ways to minimize your utility bill include lowering your hot water heater setting between 130 and 140 degrees. Simply unplugging appliances, like computers and televisions, when they’re not in use can substantially cut your bill. Save on air conditioning costs by drawing your blinds and lowering window shades when you’re out of the house. Lighting ideas include using LED bulbs in your light fixtures instead of regular incandescent light bulbs. LEDs can produce the same amount of light using much less energy than incandescent, halogen, and compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs.
A big way to cut your electric bill is to invest in Energy Star-certified appliances. This certification indicates the appliance is energy-efficient and contributes to saving money and protecting the environment. It was created to encourage lowering greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants while providing an easy way for shoppers to recognize and purchase efficient appliances.
You don’t want to spend more than necessary on electricity service for your home or business. Using these helpful strategies can make a big difference and help bring your electric bill back down to Earth. Contact us today to learn what you could save with home electricity service powered by Amos Electric.
