Saving on power bill

[Kristen.C]

I've really been trying to keep an eye on our usage because our rates recently went up 50%. Some ideas:

I no longer use nightlights or plug in air fresheners in the bathroom or kitchen. I have no idea how much that helps but every little bit counts.

Keep your freezer full. It doesn't have to run as hard to chill items if everything in there is already cold and tightly packed.

I'm also vigilant about keeping DH's cellphone off of the charger when it already has battery strength or is fully charged. I told him to charge it in the car when he can- that power is FREE. If you do have to charge it in the house don't leave it plugged in all of the time- charge it and then unplug the charger from the wall until you need to use it again.

As far as lights go I stopped using lights during the day unless it was necessary. During the day when the sun is coming in through the patio doors there is no need for me to use light in the living room or dining room. I have also started turning off the TV when I'm not watching it. I used to leave it on for background noise.

As far as your dryer goes if you have to run it do it in the evenings in the summer and the day during the winter. The extra heat during the day in the winter will allow you to use less power heating the home and running it in the evenings when it is cooler during the summer will keep the AC from being overtaxed during the day.

Change/clean your AC filters as often as it is called for. When they clog up with pollen, dust, dirt, etc they do not run as efficiently. This makes a huge difference.

If there is an area of your home that you don't use daily or don't need to keep as cool then close the vents and door to that area. My home office isn't really used on the weekends and some days during the week so I close the door and shut the vent to that room. I don't need it cool in there if I'm not using the space. Same goes for the winter.

Along the same lines of thought if you have doors and windows or drafty areas in your bedroom that you don't have the time or money to insulate and cause problems in the winter, try moving your bed to an interior wall. Our apartment is brick with cheap drywall and moving the bed allowed us to not have to turn the heat up at night. My head wasn't right next to a chilly wall.

Our bill only went up a few dollars this month even with the rate increase, however DH and I were away for 4 days also so that would have meant that we used less electricity. The small changes I've made here and there have made a difference. Good luck to you!

[kdphi_uh]

I live in TX and my bill is ridiculous. We have a 4 year old home, heavily insulated with double-paned windows. My bill this month jumped to $550 and that's cheap!!! Other years it went up to $700 in the summer. My house is 2-story and 3400 sq feet. We set the thermostat to be 85 during the day when no one is home and 78 at night. We also only wash clothes with cold water but it's the high cost in TX. Everyone else I know has electric bills just as high.

[JANE4girls]

http://powertochoose.org/

this might not help in your state, but your state might have the same options. I currently pay .13¢ kwh and my last bill was $205 for 2400 sq ft house. this is a brand new (one year old) house with great insulation, double paned windows and digital programmable t-stats.

Unfortunately we can't have solar clothes driers, but mine is gas as is my water heater and stove/ oven. I also have a fridge inside and a fridge and freezer outside in the garage.

I try and remind the kids to turn things off when not in use, lights, TV, computer, radio and that seems to help. I keep the blinds closed on hot days so the a/c doesn't have to run as much and opened on overcast days to let some light in and not have to use the electric lights.

I always have the outside fridge and freezers full, even if it is just gallon jugs of water. I do laundry at night and all at one time so I am not heating up the house during the heat of the day and several times a day.

[kurlisola]

Okay, I guess we've got it lucky. I just looked at my bill & we pay, per kWh:

June-Sep $7.33 cents
Oct-May $5.39 cents

Wow! If I were paying what some of you other ladies are paying per kwh, we'd be at over $450 a month!!!

[kurlisola]

Here is a couple cool links:

http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/howmuch.html

http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/...mall_appl.html

There was another chart, that I've looked at before, but can't find it now.

[queenofthehivemomof5]

What about investing in compact florescent bulbs?

[arselia ben]

There is one thing that can help you is to unplug anything that has a clock in it. Even if you're not using it try to unplug it. Just because you're not using it at the time, it can still be using electric. They say to plug everything on a power plug so you can just click it off. The microwave is one thing that is still using electric even if it's not on. There are many other things also. Check your house.

[ROBINC]

I live in NC I have Duke Power. After my knee replacment surgery I had to do something to cut back on my bill. Just for 2 people it was about 160.00 to 180.00. I called them and they sent me a dvd energy tips, those curly looking light bulbs suppose to last for 8 yrs, a fixture for my shower heads, a fixture for my kithchen sink, plastic for windows, light switch insulator, weather stripping for around the doors. It all came in a box. Now my power bill runs around 60.00 to 72.00 a month. If you would like I can try to request another dvd and send to you. It had some great ideas.

[kmmmom]

that's fantastic RobinC. I would love to lower my bill that much and the fact that they company gives you all that stuff.....that's great.

My budget electric bill is $185. roughly 3800-4000 square foot house. gas is separate.

[Viv]

I also have Alabama Power. They told me that a refrigerator in a garage (any place that's not a/c) runs your power bill up. I also run my dryer at nite in the summer and day time in the winter. I currently have a box fan or osilating fan in every room. I run them 24/7 and i'm able to keep my a/c turned up much higher than before I got the fans. The fans circulate all the air constantly.
Viv