11 Ways to Lower Your Electric Bill

Summer Heat Got your Electric Bill Boiling..?

11 Ways that you can lower your electric bill in the heat of the summer.

How can you keep your bank account cool with another week in the 90's... With the heat not giving up and temperatures hitting 95 again, a lot of people worry about their electric bill.

Well here are a few things that you can do to help keep your cool.

1. Clean your air filter!! Yes, I know it sounds simple, but when your air filter gets clogged, your AC has to work harder and this can even cause your coils to freeze up. A general rule is to change your air filter every 90 days. If you have multiple pets or if you have allergies, you may want to change it more frequently.

2. Get a programmable thermostat. The biggest source of electric use is your AC/Furnace. Using a programmable thermostat can help by adjusting the temperature in the house when there is no one home. The actual amount that you can save using a smart thermostat will vary, but most of the manufacturers claim annual savings between 10-23%. Ecobee, Nest and Honeywell are the major players. I use Ecobee and love their user friendly app. Right now Oncor is offering a $50 rebate per unit.

3. Add Insulation or radiant barrier or both. While this is admittedly more expensive, it will help to keep you more comfortable and lower your utility costs.

4. Lower the temperature on your hot water heater. In the summer months, you should not need to keep your hot water heater quite so hot and still be comfortable in the shower.

5. Run your major electricity users at night. Pool equipment, dish washers and even washing machines can all be run over night. The demand for electricity is less over night than in the heat of the day, so running this equipment at night will save you money.

6.Make sure that your appliances are operating at peak performance. DIrty coils and bad seals can cause your appliances to work harder which requires more electricity.

7. Turn the lights off!!! Make sure that you turn everything off when not in use.

8. Wash your laundry in cold water. This actually uses less electricity and still gets your clothes clean.

9. Turn on the ceiling fans. Moving the air around, especially at night when you are sleeping allows you to keep your thermostat just a little higher.

10. Use shudders, drapes, curtains, or blinds. Blocking out the sun can help keep the inside of your house cool longer during the heat of the day.

11. Shop your energy provider. In Texas you can go to Power To Choose.org to compare pricing from different electric providers. There may be something similar in your state. Remember, just because you have been a loyal customer, does not mean that they are giving you the best rate.

I hope that some of these help. Let me know ways that you save money on your electric bill in the comments...