12 Ways to Save on Electric Bills

When you’re looking for ways to save money, lowering your bills should be a top priority. Some bills are easy to lower, such as that premium cable subscription you never use. Others might seem impossible to cut down.

If you’re like a lot of people, you’d love to lower your electric bill, but you’re not sure where to start. The good news is that lowering the electric bill starts with a lot of little changes you can make to help cut energy costs. Start by trying these 12 simple tips to reduce your electric bill.

1. Program Your Heating and Cooling

Homeowners have a lot of fancy smart-home devices to choose from today, and they can get pretty expensive. Luckily, you don’t need to spend a fortune to add a few smart elements that can help you lower your power bills.

Start with a programmable thermostat. You can opt for a top-of-the-line smart thermostat or a simple programmable one. Some smart thermostats allow you to change your home’s temperature from your remotely from your smartphone. Even a simple programmable thermostat lets you set the temperature in your home for specific times of the day.

Programming your heating and cooling saves you money on electricity by maximizing efficiency when you need it most. In the summer, you could set the thermostat to start running the air conditioning about an hour before you get home from work in the evening. You’ll come home to a cool house without wasting money cooling the house when no one’s home.

2. Unplug Appliances When Not in Use

It’s not always easy to tell if an appliance or gadget is using electricity when it’s turned off, but a lot of them do. Even if you hit the “off” button, leaving an appliance plugged in could be costing you money.

You can cut this unnecessary expense by unplugging appliances when you’re done with them. After making breakfast, unplug the toaster so it doesn’t sap energy till the next morning. You can do the same with almost any appliance or tool in your home — from gaming consoles and televisions to coffee makers and microwaves.

Unplugging all of your appliances after each use might seem inconvenient. Once you’re in the habit, however, you’ll enjoy a lower electric bill while also reducing your chance of overloading an outlet and causing a home fire.

3. Choose the Best Times to Use Electricity

Did you know that California utility companies and many across the country charge variable rates for electricity? They charge more at times when many customers use electricity, and less when demand drops. These periods of high and low energy demand are referred to as peak and off-peak hours. Pricing according to fluctuating demand is known as the company’s Time-of-Use (TOU) rate plan.

Running your dishwasher or washing clothes during off-peak hours when electricity is cheaper is a great way to lower your electric bill. (Smart appliances that let you program their start time are so handy for taking advantage of off-peak energy savings.)

But when is electricity cheapest to use? Peak hours are generally late afternoon to early evening, while off-peak hours are typically overnight and early morning. Check with your utility company for their time-of-use electricity plan tips and the timing necessary to maximize your off-peak energy savings.

4. Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water

Traditional clothes-washing wisdom might tell you to use hot water to get your clothes clean. That’s because laundry detergents of the past needed the heat from hot water to activate. Most modern detergents, however, can work just as well in cold water.

This is good news for your wallet since heating the water for a load of laundry uses a lot of energy. By washing clothes in cold water, you’re reducing the amount of electricity you need.

As a bonus, you’ll also get more use out of your clothes. Cold water is generally less harsh on your clothing than hot water. Hot water can cause fibers to break down and lead to shrinking, running dyes, or faded colors.

Make your laundry even more energy-efficient by skipping a cycle in the hot dryer. You can line-dry your clothes for similar benefits — you’ll save money on energy costs, and your clothes won’t be exposed to extreme heat.

5. Wear the Right Clothing

It may sound silly, but wearing the right clothes indoors can help reduce your heating and cooling costs, ultimately lowering your electric bill.

In the winter, you might be tempted to crank the heater and start a cozy fire in the fireplace. After a while, you realize you’re warm. Instead of turning down the heat or putting out the fire, you remove layers of clothing to beat the heat.

In the summer, you could end up doing the opposite. You run the air conditioner so the house is cold, then pull on a sweatshirt or long pants because you’re chilly.

Most of the time, you probably don’t realize you’re changing to match your current comfort level. The next time you reach for an extra layer or change into summer clothes in the winter, try adjusting your home’s thermostat instead.

6. Use Low-Energy Strategies to Stay Comfortable Indoors

Did you know that heating and cooling your home accounts for about half of your electricity consumption? Never fear — learning how to lower your electric bill doesn’t have to leave you shivering or sweating. You can save electricity without being cold. You can even lower the electricity bill without turning off the A/C or sacrificing comfort with a few low-energy strategies:

• Layer up before adjusting the thermostat — start with cozy socks, long sleeves, or hoodies.
• Wear thermal or silk base layers in winter for maximum warmth and minimum bulk.
• Use heated throws before turning up the heat.
• Swap heavy clothes for light, breathable fabrics in summer.
• Use fans to circulate air and cool individual rooms.
• Set ceiling fans to rotate clockwise in winter to push warm air down and counterclockwise in summer for better cooling.
• Close curtains or blinds during hot afternoons to block heat from entering.
• Open windows at night when it's cooler, then close them during the day.
• Install blackout curtains to reduce heat transfer year-round.
• Apply energy-efficient window film to help insulate your windows.
• Use a space heater to warm only the room you’re using.
• Cook with smaller appliances (such as toaster ovens or Instant Pots) to avoid heating the entire house.

These tips to lower your electric bill ensure energy savings without discomfort.

7. Maintain Your HVAC System

Your heating and cooling system has to work hard to give you an ideal indoor temperature, especially if the outdoor temperature is extreme. The best way to keep your HVAC system from running up your electric bill is to practice proper maintenance.

The easiest step is to replace your air filter regularly. The air filter works to keep debris, dust, and allergens out of the air in your home. As the particles collect in the filter, the system has to work harder to move air through. Check your air filter regularly. If it’s dirty and dusty, it’s time to replace it.

You should also consider hiring a professional HVAC technician to service your system each year. A professional will have the tools and knowledge to alert you if there are any issues and clean your system so it’s running properly.

8. Keep Your Appliances in Good Condition

A dirty appliance in need of repairs often costs a lot more to run than a clean one. Reduce your energy costs by keeping your appliances in good repair. If you notice an appliance isn’t running as efficiently, such as a dryer not drying clothes, clean out dust, dirt, and buildup, or contact a repair company.

When your appliance gets beyond repair, you might want to think about replacing it with a newer, more efficient model. Many modern appliances are designed to reduce energy costs and may even come with a rebate from your local power company.

9. Change Your Light Bulbs

If you’re still using incandescent light bulbs, it’s time for an upgrade. Replacing traditional incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is one of the quickest and easiest ways to save money and conserve energy. CFLs last up to 10 times longer and use 75 percent less energy than the old bulb type.

Both CFLs and LEDs outperform incandescent bulbs, but the newer generations of LEDs have even surpassed the quality and efficiency of CFLs. Incandescent bulbs are less expensive to buy, but over 20 years, they will cost you around four times more in purchase cost and energy usage – over $200 compared to $50 for the longer-lasting and more energy-efficient LEDs.

10. Focus on Your Fridge and Freezer

At the right temperature, your fridge will keep food cold and safe to eat for weeks by slowing the growth of bacteria. Your freezer can prevent bacterial growth for even longer. But what is the right temperature, and how do you know you’re not wasting energy by keeping it colder than it needs to be? The FDA recommends setting your fridge to 40 degrees and your freezer between 0 and 5 degrees. So, use the top end of both ranges to save energy while keeping food safe.

Another way to conserve energy is to keep your fridge and freezer running optimally by performing regular maintenance. Check the door seals — especially if you have an older model fridge — since a loose seal will leak cold air, making the fridge work harder to stay at the correct temperature. Another energy drain: dust buildup on the condenser coils. Twice a year, pull the refrigerator out from the wall and vacuum the coils found on the back.

11. Insulate Your Home

According to energy.gov, a poorly insulated home can drive your energy bill up by 20 percent. In summer and winter, it takes a lot of energy to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. So, if your home isn’t properly insulated, your HVAC appliances will need to work harder, which increases costs. To find the offending areas, start with a visual inspection of both the inside and the outside of your home.

If you see gaps between doors and frames or around windows, you may need to fix them with weather stripping or caulking. Inspect your basement for cracks that could be letting air in or out, and fill them with expanding foam. If you experience chilly parts of your home where cold drafts blow in winter, chances are these same spots are letting out cool air in summer. Upgrading your home’s insulation is an easy fix to lower the electric bill.

12. Shorten Your Showers

While there are many ways to save energy by reducing or giving up certain behaviors, foregoing a regular shower is not an option for most. However, there are ways to conserve energy and water while remaining clean and odor-free. A typical shower can use up to 40 gallons of water. If you trim even two minutes off your shower time, you can reduce water consumption by five gallons each time you lather up.

Replacing your old showerhead with an energy-efficient model will save you 2,700 gallons of water per year. And the less hot water you use, the more energy you conserve.

Before we wrap up, it’s worth taking the time to better understand how to read your electric bill so you can get a handle on where your money is going and how to lower your electric bill.

Understanding Your Electric Bill: What Are You Really Paying For?

Understanding how to read your electric bill is essential if you’re serious about lowering your energy costs. It’s also the first step in answering the common question, “Why is my electric bill so high?” Even better, it can provide insights into how to lower your electric bill.

Most electric bills include two main types of charges:

• Fixed charges: These are monthly fees that don’t change regardless of how much energy you use. These base fees cover power grid maintenance, metering costs, and customer service.
• Usage-based charges: These fees are based on the amount of energy you used in the month, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). One kWh equals the electricity consumed when a one kilowatt (1,000 watts) device is run for one hour. Let’s say you use 1,000 kWh in a single month. If the price were $0.15 per kWh, your usage-based fee would come to $150. If you’re on a time-of-use (TOU) plan, the price you pay per kWh is higher during peak hours and lower during off-peak hours.

The price per kWh is made up of two charges:

• Supply Charges: The cost of the electricity you actually use.
• Delivery Charges: The cost of delivering the electricity you use from the power plant to your home.

Learning how to read your electric bill helps you to see how much electricity you use throughout the day, week, and month. You’ll see what uses the most electricity at home and when. In most homes, heating and cooling account for about half of the energy used, with the water heater, refrigerator, and clothes dryer coming next. A smart plug or home energy monitor can help you do a simple DIY energy audit to identify which appliances draw the most power. This, in turn, can help you find ways to lower your electric bill.

Did you know that many appliances and small devices draw electricity even when they’re not in use? Items with internal clocks, LED displays, or remote control sensors, like the microwave, coffee pot, gaming console, printer, TV, and more, are considered “always on” and they continuously draw 0.5-30 watts even when “off.”

Your energy audit will help you identify high-use devices that you might unplug when not in use or upgrade to a more energy-efficient model. Using power strips makes it easy to turn off several devices at once, perhaps saving $4 to $6 per month or $50 to $72 annually.

Learning how to lower the electric bill can be easy if you follow these twelve steps. Remember to monitor your monthly statement to see the impact these cost-saving ideas can have on your electric bill. At the same time, you should feel good that you’re doing your part for the environment by reducing energy usage.

While you’re looking to save money, why not contact a friendly Wawanesa agent to review your car insurance coverage? We may be able to save you money while ensuring you’re fully protected.