ControlBillCost

Take Control of Your Monthly Power Bill

    The amount of electricity we use to stay warm on frigid days and nights will be reflected in next month’s power bills. But remember, even when the temperature plummets in winter you are in full control of your use of power.

            We want to help our members find ways to improve their home’s energy efficiency and pinpoint common energy wasters. Heating and cooling, for example, account for about 50 percent of the average member’s energy use. In very cold months, it can reach 75 percent. Obviously, anything you can do to reduce heating and cooling will lower your power bill.

            Here are some tips that can help you:

  • Learning to measure your daily energy use can be one of your most productive tools for reducing use. Reading your meter every 24 hours reveals how much electricity you used in relation to weather conditions and daily activities. Subtract the current reading from the previous day’s to determine your 24-hour energy use. It’s helpful to keep a log of readings, so you can see how weather and household activities impacted your energy use during a billing period.
  • We recommend a setting of 65 to 68 degrees for the electric furnace or heat pump. Raising the thermostat to 74 degrees can add roughly 40 percent to the cost of your electric bill. We also recommend wearing layers of clothing to stay warmer inside and turning the heat down at night and using an electric blanket.
  • Clean and replace your system’s air filters regularly.
  • Inspect duct work regularly. Even when properly installed ducts can develop air leaks.
  • All areas underneath a mobile home should be properly sealed off from weather elements. Ductwork should be inspected for leakage regularly, especially when animals have access underneath the home.
  • Windows and doors should be sealed to prevent cold air from entering.
  • We recommend a water heater setting of 120-140 degrees. Your water heater should be located in a heated area; if this is not possible, we recommend adding an insulating blanket to the heater.
  • Use cold instead of hot water for daily laundry.

You should also know:

  • An electric furnace can use 2 t0 3 times more energy than a heat pump.
  • A 10,000-watt electric furnace is equal to 10 kilowatt-hours. That means running the furnace can cost roughly $1 for one hour, $12 for 12 hours. A month’s use can add up to $350 to your power bill.
  • Using one 1500-watt heater for one hour consumes 1.5 kilowatt-hours. Using the heater for 12 hours daily for a month will add roughly $55 to your bill.

Web sites such as www.accuweather.com can be useful when comparing your past month’s bill to outside temperatures. Focus on the daily average temperature; when it is low and your thermostat is set at 68 degrees, your heating system will work much harder to maintain a constant temperature for your home.

Southern Pine can help you with informative free brochures. Call or come by one of our offices, or check out the Energy Savings information above.

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