We’re seeing the cost of living shoot up in record numbers and the average cost of electricity is on the rise, and that doesn’t matter where you live around the world. Reducing your energy bills are more important than ever before, especially if you hope to be able to continue to live on the way that you are being paid.
There are plenty of reasons your energy bill could be higher than usual, so it’s important to keep on top of your bills so that you can understand why. If you are in need of furnace repair, for example, it could be the cause of spending a LOT on your utilities if you don’t get it fixed. If you can understand why your energy bill is higher than you expected, you would be able to address the issue and make the changes you need to make. There are some very common reasons why your electricity bill could be so high, so let’s take a look at those below.
- You are using estimated bills. If you are currently not in receipt of a smart meter from your provider, you should look at getting one. A smart meter doesn’t rely on an estimate, it goes by actual usage, which means that whatever you are spending on your electricity or using from your electricity. That’s exactly what you will be spending and you’ll see it in real time. If your energy company hasn’t received a meter reading, they will use your usage history or a profile of a home similar to yours to estimate your bill. It doesn’t have to be that way.If you are keeping on top of your energy bills, you’ll be able to see whether or not your bills are the same every month or just an estimate. Choosing to submit a meter reading can show them your actual usage and your bill will be adjusted the way it should be.
- Your energy tariff has expired. Did you know that most energy tariffs have a benefit period? Most people sign up to their energy providers based on the deals that are available to them. But if you have an energy tariff offer, that’s going to expire and it’s not going to be the price you will always pay. If you’ve noticed that your bill has suddenly gone through the roof, then there’s every chance it’s because the tariff that you signed up for has now expired and you have to look at either changing providers and picking up a new deal or negotiating with your current provider to take your bill down.
- Seasons have changed. A lot of people will see a difference in their energy bills because of the fact that the seasons have changed. They might spend more on air conditioning in the summer or heating in the winter, but the changes in season can affect the energy bill due to changes in temperature and the amount of light that is used during the day too. Your temperatures and adjusting your thermostat according to the season is going to help you to lower your utility bills overall.
- You are not unplugging your devices if you’re leaving devices plugged in and on overnight. These are known as vampire devices because they’re going to suck all the energy from the room. You need to keep your utility bills low, and that means making sure that you are taking things out of their plug sockets and leaving them to one side so that they are not leeching your electricity while you sleep.
- You are using old appliances. The appliances that you’ve had in your kitchen for years could be less energy efficient now than they were when you first bought them. You need to make sure that you have appliances with the right Energy Star rating and consider updating your older appliances to reflect the new way you want your utility bills to go.
- The appliances you’ve got are draining your energy. It’s not just about the star ratings. Your appliances, ovens, clothes dryers and space heaters are very heavily draining on your energy. These are all usually used by those in areas that require it in the winter, but if you don’t need your dryer, don’t use it. If you live somewhere that has beautiful weather most of the year then utilizing a washing line outside could really help you to take down your electricity bills.
Extreme weather conditions are preventing you from saving money. You might not consider it, but extreme weather is something that you may not originally think of when you think about why your energy bill is so high. Summer heat waves as well as winter cold fronts can help your energy bills to go up, so you should consider exactly what that would mean for your overall spending and if you can stop. - Spending more time at home. You would never think that it will cost you money to stay at home. But if you’re staying somewhere and you need the lights on and the heating going, you’re going to find your utility bills going up. Spending more time at home is an obvious reason your energy bill could be higher. So if you’re working from home these days, you might want to look into tax incentives to get some money back on your bills.
- You’ve got guests coming to stay. A good sign that your utility bills are going to go up is that you have guests coming to stay. Having extra people in the house that are using extra charges, hair dryers, showers, and more loads of laundry are all going to help your energy bill to rise. Empty bedrooms that are suddenly filled means that you’re going to have to pay to warm and light up these spaces, so keep an eye on that if you have more people staying around.
Now that you know the reasons behind your energy bills being up, you can work on reducing those things.
XOXO
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