Finding your bill higher than normal? Here are a few things to check within your home.
Have you checked heating & cooling units? “Around 15% of the high bill complaints I get are from customers whose relay switch is out on their heat/air unit.” ~ People’s Electric Cooperative (PEC) Customer Service Representative.- Do you have a fireplace? As much as 30% of conditioned air could escape through the chimney (remember, a fire needs air to burn).
- Any new people in the house? Each additional person living in a household can add as much as $50 to an electric bill.
Do you change the air filters once a month? It can save $80 plus per year.- Have you changed your thermostat? In the winter, a customer can save around $80 for each degree the thermostat is lowered.
- Does the customer have new electronics? Unplug them. Unplugging electronics when not in use can save $150 plus each year.
- Have you checked the elements in your hot water heater? It may be time to replace them.
Things change from year to year. Houses shift and create new leaks in window areas. Appliances get older. Temperatures last year are not the same as this year. More than 600,000 cubic feet of air can pass through an older home daily. That’s enough to fill 3 Goodyear blimps every day!
- Ask your Customer Service Representative to compare daily meter readings with temperatures. If usage skyrockets on extreme cold or hot days, the culprit is probably the heating/air unit.
- How much does it cost? Find the wattage of an appliance (usually located on the appliance) multiplied by hours used per month multiplied by 1000 equals the total kilowatt-hours used by appliance per month.
Helpful Websites
- See Team PEC’s 2013 People’s Choice Energy Efficiency video on YouTube
- Energy Saver
- Touchstone Energy Cooperatives
You Have the Power! A Guide to Cost-Cutting Conservation Measures
One of the best things about being a member of an electric cooperative is that you have the power to directly affect what you pay for energy.
When all co-op members make the effort to manage their energy use more effectively, the result is that the co-op ultimately doesn’t need to buy as much energy to serve members’ needs. That means that the cost of energy comes down for everyone in the co-op. Not only that, but you’ll also be helping to reduce your co-op’s dependence on power generated by fossil fuels. That means cleaner air for everyone.
This guide is designed to give you all the information you need to manage energy effectively in your home or business. You’ll learn how to make the most efficient use of energy in everything from heating and cooling systems to lighting and appliances. There are tips on saving energy in small ways every day, as well as detailed information about taking energy efficiency into account when it’s time to replace major appliances or if you’re undertaking a major home renovation.
Remember, doing all you can to effectively manage energy use will have a direct impact on your energy costs and quality of life. As a co-op member, that’s the kind of power you have.
