It’s natural for electric bills to fluctuate throughout the year. For example, a bill in July may be higher than a bill in October as you tend to run the air conditioner more during the warm summer months. But if your bill costs suddenly jump higher than you have ever seen or anticipated them to, then there could be other underlying issues.
If your electricity bill has been increasing dramatically and you’re not sure why, there could be a few contributing factors, or you just may need to compare electricity providers in the area to see if there is a more affordable option. Learn more about what you can do to fix this problem.
Your appliances may need repair or an upgrade.
Many times, an increased power bill can be linked to malfunctioning appliances. If your water heater is leaking, and you’re unaware, then that heater is spending more energy to continue heating water for showers, cooking, and other household needs. A big drain on your energy bill could be an air conditioning unit. If your AC is older, or the air ducts need cleaning, then your AC is working more than it needs to be, using up electricity and driving up your costs.
It’s best to have an HVAC professional come to check up on your unit every year, so they can ensure everything is working properly and that there are no big issues that need to be repaired immediately. If they do catch an issue, they can then repair it and save your monthly energy budget. Save their number in your list of contacts, so you don’t miss a call from them or wonder, whose number is this? and forget to follow up with them.
Your older appliances could also be contributing to the problem. If you have an older washer, dryer, refrigerator, or other appliance without an Energy Star rating, then that appliance is likely using more energy than a newer one would. Upgrading to new appliances that are rated and following federal regulations is better for you and more eco-friendly as well.
It might be time to replace your older windows.
If you have older windows, then your home is not as energy-efficient as it could be. Consider replacing them with new windows that are more insulated and keep the temperature inside your home more regulated. These older windows can be an issue in the summer as well as the winter, causing increased costs in heating and air conditioning. Newer windows will not have that problem, and while they may be a larger upfront cost, they will pay off in the long run.
You’re not unplugging your devices when they’re not in use.
Keeping everything plugged in all the time may be more convenient, but did you know that these electronic devices are using power even when you’re not using them? Appliances like microwaves and coffee makers stay in a “standby” mode when you turn them off so that they will turn on quicker when you need them. This means they are still using electricity. It’s the same with computers, TVs, DVRs, and more. If you unplug this, then they will naturally use less energy, and your bill will be a bit cheaper the next month.
Device chargers also drain power. Cell phones, tablets, and video game systems all require a charger. When those stay plugged in all the time, they’re just pulling in energy so that they are ready whenever you need them to be. Unplugging these as well could save you money on your bill.
Following some of these steps could help decrease the money you’re shelling out each month on your electric costs.
