Need to lower your electric bill? You have options. Unfortunately, you might not have any control over which utility companies are available in your neighborhood but you have options to lower your electric, gas, and water consumption.
Do the following three steps:
First, start with writing down your current utility providers–water, electric, and gas companies in a sheet of paper into columns.
Second, gather your billing statement and circle the customer service numbers and prepare yourself to make a few calls.
Lastly, set uninterrupted time to call the utility companies and inquire about ways you can reduce your monthly bill. Don’t ask for reduction because these bills tend to be regulated and often based on your consumption. The goal of the conversations is to determine how much you’re using and what the utility company advice in reducing consumption and lowering the bill.
Ways to lower your electric bill and other utilities
When speaking with the utility reps ask about available credits or discounts that can be applied to your bill. These credits may be given because of new grants or programs offered by government agencies. Inquire about a structured monthly payment plan with no surprises. Basically, this means an analysis of your past usage and averaging the monthly bill into a projected equal payment each month. If you deviate from your past usage, then you’re bill may increase.
Use a programmable thermostat so you’re in control of the temperature in your home
Program the heating and cooling when you’re in the house and based on the time of day. You may not need the house cooled late at night when the sun is down for instance. You’ll find by lowering your heating and cooling by a couple of degrees can mean spending less. Tip: Experts have shared that manually adjusting thermostat leads to higher expenses because the system is turning on and off at the whim of whoever is choosing to manually change the temp.
Replace your air filters with your cooling and heating unit
An old filter can cause your HVAC to work harder as it tries to heat and cool your home. You also run the risk of your HVAC system failing from overheating. Order a supply of filters that will last you for an entire year and change once a month.
Insulate your home
It is important to check the insulation in your home, from your walls to your pipes, to reduce the need for heating and to cut the cost of your electric bill. The cost of insulating your home may seem like a big investment but may pay off in the long run with lower utility costs.
Lower the temperature on your water heater
The water heater is responsible for distributing hot water to sinks and showers, along with laundry machines and dishwashers. By lowering the temperature a few degrees, you can reduce your electrical consumption lower your electric bill.
Use smart devices and unplug appliances
Investing in smart devices can help you lower your electrical bill by giving you more control of when lights and appliances are on. For instance, if you go to work and forgot to turn off the lights, you can remotely shut off lights. Additionally, remove gadgets, devices, and appliances that are not in use from the outlet.
Do chores at the same time
Consider doing laundry at the same time with bigger loads. This will lower the amount of water and electricity. Consider washing clothes in cold water instead of hot. Use dryers consecutively will reduce the necessary amount of time to heat because the dryer remains warmer. When it comes to dryers, use the dryer’s auto drying settings instead of timed drying.
Upgrade your appliances
Older appliances can require more electricity to run. It may be time to upgrade your appliances with more energy-efficient brands.
Looking for other ways to save more money? There are many other ways to lower household expenses.
