13 simple ways to lower your electric bill
September 14, 2009 · Tagged with Family and Home
8. Close your blinds. It’s a simple concept: Rooms get hotter without shades or curtains to block the sunlight. You can put this idea to work more effectively by getting insulated window treatments.
9. Use fans. A breeze makes the room feel a few degrees cooler. Just be sure to turn it off when you leave. “Fans cool people, not rooms,” Kweller says.
10. Unplug. Gadgets like your cellphone charger and microwave suck energy — and generate heat — as long as they’re attached to a power source. Standby power for appliances not in use is typically 5% to 10% of residential electricity use, according to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Plug those devices into a power strip that can be turned off when not in use.
Assess Utility Suppliers
11. Check alternate suppliers. If you live in a state where the electric industry is deregulated, shop around for a different energy provider, says Steve Rosenstock, manager of energy solutions for the Edison Electric Institute, an industry group. Depending on where you live, you could save 5% to 15% a month, and many of these companies use renewable energy so they are much less dependent on the whims of oil, coal and natural gas prices. Most will also fix billing rates for a year or more — a bonus if energy prices creep back up. Visit your state’s public service commission to determine your options. Just be aware that most providers require you to commit to at least a year and charge a hefty fee if you duck out early, Rosenstock says.
12. Consider time-of-use plans. A growing number of electric companies are offering so-called time-of-use plans, which offer lower rates for energy consumption during off-peak hours (usually from midevening to early morning). The catch? You’ll often pay more for peak-hours use, so consider your schedule before signing up. Arizona-based SRP, for example, regularly charges 10.73 cents per kilowatt hour during the summer. On the time-of-use plan, it charges 20.03 cents for on-peak hours (1 p.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays) and 6.30 cents during the rest of the day.
13. Fix your bill. Ask your utility about fixed-bill plans, which charge the same amount every month for a set period, regardless of your electricity use. You’ll pay a premium rate per kilowatt hour to hedge against price increases and seasonal spikes, so make sure to crunch the numbers to see if you’ll really save, Kweller says. Also, keep in mind that these plans periodically reconcile, which can leave you with a big bill if you’ve used more than the supplier anticipated. Check with your utility to see if you’ll be alerted if you’re using more power than anticipated and whether you can pay extra as you go.