Four Ways To Save Money On Your Electric Bill This Month

Conserving electricity in order to keep your bill from skyrocketing doesn’t have to be a painful experience. In fact, there are small things homeowners and apartment tenants do every day that increase the amount of money on their electricity bill without even being aware of it.

Making simple changes to your lifestyle and how you use your power can save you a surprising about of money on your electricity bill. The following are a number of ways in order to keep the money you spend on power in your pocket.

Adjust your thermostat
Many homes and apartments these days have a programmable thermostat. Take the time to set up programs. Raise the temperature while the house is empty during the day. Then set it to cool back down an hour or so before you’ll be returning home. There are even learning thermostats available on the market that will learn your habits and raise or lower the temperature automatically. Even if you don’t have a programmable thermostat, you can still benefit by manually raising the temperature when you leave and then lowering it when you get back home. Utilizing this method can save you as much as 10% on your electric bill.

Use a ceiling fan if you have one
Ceiling fans cool you by creating a wind chill effect on your body. They do not cool the room. However, you can raise your thermostat by as many as five degrees with no reduction in comfort. You have to turn off the fans when you exit the room. Remember, ceiling fans cool people, not the room itself. The cost benefit here is not running the ceiling fan itself, but rather raising the thermostat. Utilizing ceiling fans properly can save you as much as 5% on your electric bill.

Convert to LED lights
LED lights last up to 10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs while simultaneously using only 15% of the amount of energy. Lighting accounts for about 20% of your total electricity bill. Switching your whole home to LED can result in up to a 17% reduction in your electricity bill.

Choose the right electricity provider
In most areas of Texas, you have the ability to choose your home power company. Your distribution or “wire” company does not change. Selecting the right power company and the right plan can ultimately save you the most money on your electricity bill. Compare each plan’s EFL (Electronic Facts Label) before choosing which retail electric company to use for your home or apartment to ensure you’re getting a great deal.

Using less energy and electricity is great for the environment, but it’s also great for your wallet. By making these small changes to your everyday life, you can save money on your electricity rates and put it toward the fun things in your life rather than worrying about your expenses.