At the very beginning, make sure that your bills are really that high. Remember that your electricity bill depends on where you live, the size of your house, and other extremely narrow factors.
Many of us often wonder why my electricity bill is too high, what can I do about it.
Well, in this article, I will try to provide some tips that will certainly reduce your bills.
Of course, there are many factors you won’t be able to influence, such as the price of electricity or the weather outside.
However, there are a great many things you can do to make your bills much lower.
Is my electric bill too high?
My electricity bill is too high, what can I do? At the very beginning, make sure that your bills are really that high. Remember that your electricity bill depends on where you live, the size of your house, and other extremely narrow factors.
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to check whether your bill is actually high. One way may be to refer to the national average electricity bill.
Why my electricity bill is too high, what can I do? Remember that energy costs are constantly rising.
If you find that your bill is significantly different from the U.S. average amount, you should know that there are many sub-causes by which your electricity bill may increase.
10 reasons why your electricity bill is so high
- Phantom energy-consuming devices
You need to know that a great many electronic devices that are connected draw energy even when they are not in use. Such activity is commonly called phantom load. It is worth knowing that in almost every American home there are 40 devices that are constantly drawing energy, accounting for almost 10% of the total monthly consumption.
- Traditional incandescent bulbs
If you use traditional incandescent bulbs for lighting in your home, you are certainly wasting energy. Consequently, if you are wondering why my electricity bill is too high, what can I do about it? Replace traditional incandescent bulbs with electroluminescence (LED) bulbs.
- Leave appliances and lights on
If you happen to mess with lights or appliances that are on while you are away, you are wasting energy. Remember to turn them off before you leave.
- Using energy-intensive appliances
Modern appliances are designed to operate efficiently with less energy consumption. Consequently, if you have old appliances in your home, they may be using excessive amounts of energy. This is most true of refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines and clothes dryers.
- Using a lot of hot water
According to statistics, water heating typically accounts for about 18% of total energy consumption. When you use a lot of hot water, the water heater must constantly work to heat this water. This can lead to generating high electricity bills
- Putting significant demand on your HVAC system
On average, heating energy use accounts for 29% of annual costs, and cooling about 13%. If your HVAC system uses electricity, your bills could be higher. During very cold weather, you can expect to use more energy than on warmer days.
- Higher electricity rates
Wondering why my electricity bill is too high, what can I do? Check your energy rates. They can vary by supplier and location. Interestingly, they can also vary seasonally. If you are worried: “why is my bill too high, what can I do about it?”. You can change your energy supplier.
- Use of electricity during peak hours
Some suppliers make their electricity rate dependent on the time of use. This means that during certain hours, the use of energy will be more expensive than at other times. It is worth familiarizing yourself with such information so that you do not use excessive amounts of energy during peak hours.
- Staying at home
The pandemic has caused us to spend more of our time indoors, resulting in higher energy bills.
- More use of devices
A great many people, due to the pandemic, have started working remotely, making them use a computer for almost 8 hours a day. The same is true for students. More frequent use of devices means that your bills may be higher.
How can I lower my energy bills?
My electricity bill is too high, what can I do? This is a question that many people wonder about. Here are some tips to help you lower your energy bills.
- Conduct an energy audit — the auditor will check energy consumption and suggest solutions to reduce consumption
- Replace old appliances — when replacing, look for appliances with the ENERGY STAR label, which have greater energy efficiency.
- Unplug appliances and turn off lights — this practice can help save up to 10% of energy.
- Replace traditional incandescent bulbs with energy-saving ones — according to statistics, you can save up to $75 a year this way.
- Install dimmer switches — the ideal solution to reduce energy consumption is to use dimmers. With them, you can set the amount of light you need while reducing energy consumption.
- Install ceiling fans — during hot days, turn on the fan and raise the thermostat setting. This solution makes you feel the same level of comfort with less energy consumption.
- Adjust the thermostat — if you are away from home, adjust the unit so that it does not have to use a lot of energy while you are away. This can save you up to 10% of heating costs.
- Dry clothes outdoors — you need to know that the drying function in the washing machine uses a lot of energy.
- Lower the water heater setting — reduce the setting from 140ºF to 120ºF, and you can save up to $400 a year. This will help you stop wondering why my electricity bill is too high, what can I do?
- Change the HVAC filter — when the filter is dirty or clogged, it uses much more energy. So it’s a good idea to change the filter regularly—typically every three months.
- Use a low-flow shower head — it is recommended to take shorter showers or use shower heads that have the WaterSense label.
- Avoid peak hours — remember not to use energy-intensive appliances during these times. It is recommended to turn on the washing machine, dishwasher, or dryer during off-peak hours.
