Summertime and higher electricity rates have been going hand in hand for years. You’ve most likely found yourself asking “is my high bill due to the electricity plans or is something wrong at my house?” Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this article well go over several reasons why you might experience a high electric bill in the summer, compared to other months of the year.
What are Fixed Rates & Variable Rates?
If you live in a de-regulated energy area, you’ve likely had the opportunity to select a third-party provider. When shopping electricity rates and electricity plans, fixed-rates and variable-rates are the two common ways all plans are offered.
Fixed-rate electricity plans allow for your electricity rates to stay “fixed” for the duration of your contract. This means your rate won’t change and you can expect a consistent bill depending upon your monthly Kilowatt-usage.
Variable-rate electricity plans, however, allow for your electricity rates energy charge to “vary”, because your energy charge is not locked in for the duration of your plan term. Further detailing, your energy charge one month may be different the next, upon the discretion of your provider.
This is important because having electricity plans with variable electricity rates is the biggest reason for seeing a high electric bill compared to the previous month!
Electricity Plans Causing your High Electric Bill?
Electric companies (REP’s) have been coming up with clever ways to get you to pay more. You might be noticing this more in the summer months as you may be using more electricity to power things like your pool or a/c unit. Some electricity plans are designed to increase the energy charge if your monthly kWh (kilowatt-hour) usage exceeds a set amount. For example, if you use below 2,000 kWh, your energy charge may be 6.5 c/kWh. However, if you use more than 2,000 kWh, for example, 2,001 kWh, then your energy charge may change to 9.5 c/kWh. This is why it’s very important to select a plan that meets your monthly kWh usage needs.
Air Conditioner Running While You’re at work?
Controlling your air conditioner while you’re away will drastically help lower your high electric bill. Thanks to advancements in digital thermostats such as the Nest thermostat preventing a high electric bill has never been easier. According to Nest, “independent studies showed that it saved people an average of 10% to 12% on heating bills and 15% on cooling bills.”
A nest thermostat will learn and record your tendencies at your residence. So, when you leave work every day at 7 am, it will automatically raise the air temperature in your house from 72 to 80. Allowing for your air conditioner to work less throughout the day, while no one is home. It will then also kick back on 30-45 minutes before you come home. This way the house is cooled down to your desired temperature before you enter.
Curtains or Window Blinds Reduce High Electric Bills in The Summer
The use of curtains or window blinds may be one of the easiest ways to keep your house cool. Almost all houses have one or the other. Keeping them closed in the summer is a great way to keep the sun out and the house cool. Studies show that medium-colored draperies with white plastic backings can reduce heat gain by 33 percent, according to the DOE. So next time you’re at your local hardware store, spend a couple bucks on some window blinds or drapes and increase your savings this summer!
Weather Stripping Around Doors
Make sure all the doors in your residence have adequate weather stripping in place. You want to ensure that the air conditioning you’re paying for is staying in your home and not escaping! Your electricity rates can be low, but when cold air is escaping and your air conditioner is running all day to replace escaping air…you’re bound to be confronted with a high electric bill. According to Energy.gov, weather stripping can save you 5-10% energy savings! This is also a relatively easy project. Only requiring about an hour of your time to install. The best part…the overall cost of adding weather stripping to your door is only around $10.
Keep Your HVAC System Clean & Updated
Keeping up with your HVAC system will allow it to run efficiently. Making sure to change your air filters every 30-60 days is the easiest way to do this. Residences with pets will often have their filters clog sooner than those without them. When these filters clog the air is not able to pull efficiently. Resulting in your unit working harder than normal (using more electricity). Additionally, making sure you have adequate amounts of coolant in the AC unit is also very important. If your unit is lacking coolant then it’ll be pushing warm air into your house. HVAC technicians will also be able to check your air ducts, making sure they’re not clogged.
Use a ReloTech Utility Concierge Like UtilityHound
When it comes to selecting electricity plans it can be very confusing. UtilityHound makes this process VERY easy. Their platform allows you to easily shop multiple electricity rates at once. The electricity plans are all laid out in a transparent manner. Allowing you to pick the one that works best for your needs! Once you’ve found the electricity plan you want. Just select it, add it to your cart and check out! It’s that easy! The electricity company will connect the power and you’ll get a detailed email summary of the important information pertaining to your account! As a trusted and valued utility concierge UtilitHound can also help you connect other home services at your residence. Internet, TV, Home Security, rental insurance, and mail forwarding are just a few of the other services UtilityHound can save you time connecting.
For more information on UtilityHound’s complimentary services please visit www.UtilityHound.com!