When you have a surprise high electricity bill, the first thing on your mind is how it will affect your life. This is true if other expenses are coming up like a big trip or buying something new for work.
You can cut your electricity costs and still have more (or enough) for something you’ve been planning. In this article, discover the five practical and easy ways to immediately cut down expenses on your electric bill.
Table of Contents
A Brief Overview of Your Electricity Bill
Electric providers usually give you the bill every quarter. There are two elements in a retailer bill that residential homeowners should be aware of: fixed and variable.
Fixed charges are flat rates you pay to retailers for active connection of your electricity. Variable charges include the tariffs, fees, and peak season charges that vary from state to state. The drought season usually brings higher electricity costs for places like Sydney and Illawarra.
To achieve a lower electricity bill, you need to identify factors where there’s excessive use. From here, you can plan a more efficient and energy-saving method to enjoy your appliances and stay comfortable in your home.
Energy-Efficient Tips to Reduce Your Electricity Bill
1.) Check your Thermostat
Heating and cooling are two of the prominent drivers for your electricity meter.
Adjusting your thermostat to less than 20 degrees when heating can save you around 10% on running costs.
You can change this to 25 degrees for summer and get sufficient cooling to keep you comfortable from the heat outside.
2.) Plug Out Appliances That Are Not In Use
There are appliances around your home that you may not be using. These might include microwaves, phone chargers, television, and electric fans that might be adding unnecessary costs to your bill. Unplugging them keeps your expenses down to the minimum.
3.) Keep Doors And Curtains Closed
It can get quite chilly outside during the winter season. When using a heating appliance, closing the door and curtains keep the heat trapped inside the space. The same goes when you turn on your air conditioner during the summer season.
You can block the draughts and keep the air trapped inside your room. It’s a cheap and practical solution to keeping comfortable in any season.
4.) Monitor Energy Consumption
You can opt to use a smart monitoring device to keep track of electricity use in your home. You can immediately scan whether you’re consuming more than you should for a given period. Most households who opt to have smart meters are usually given electric monitoring access from their providers.
5.) Evaluate Your Kitchen Appliance Use
Like your bedroom and living room, the kitchen is another place to use your appliances frequently.
Check your refrigerators to see if the seals are still holding to ensure you’re not wasting energy. Place the fridge at around 4 to 5 degrees Celsius while setting the freezer temperature to -15 degrees Celsius. Use the microwave oven, pressure cooker, or electric frying pan instead of the traditional electric oven to save more on energy consumption.
Conclusion
Developing good habits of saving electricity can go a long way. When you incorporate these few tips into your routine, you will save money and contribute to sharing this precious resource with the community.