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Here's why your bill might be higher than you expected and what you can do to lower it.
By far the most powerful influence on electric usage is the season. Electricity use rises in the fall and winter. This is not surprising given that we spend more time indoors and the demand on heating, water heating and lighting is greatest during the cooler months.
Potential causes
But bill spikes at this time of year can also be due to:
- Extra electric heating, space heater use or leaving doors open to unused rooms. If you have an electric furnace, filters should be cleaned regularly.
- Home needs weatherizing. If you have a ducted electric furnace (or electric heat pump) ducts should be tight and insulated. Ceilings, floors and walls need more insulation. You need weatherstripping or caulking around doors, windows, pipes and cracks.
- Inaccurate thermostat. Make sure your home-heating thermostat is properly calibrated. The higher the setting, the more energy used.
- Extended winter lighting requirements.
- Fireplace dampers left open when not in use.
- Old, unwrapped electric water heaters in an unheated space. They should be wrapped.
- Water heater thermostat set too high.
- New appliances in your home. Use our energy calculator to figure your monthly costs.
What can you do? Try these proven strategies to control your electric usage:
No-cost energy savers
Turn down the heat — Try 68 degrees when you’re at home and a 10-degree setback at bedtime or when you’re at work.
Close the fireplace vent and door — Warm air rises and it will rise right up the chimney. So keep the fireplace closed when it’s not in use.
Let the sun shine in — On clear days, open curtains or blinds on the sunny side of the house to help boost temperatures indoors.
Low-cost energy savers
Cover the gaps — Take time to caulk and add weatherstripping and door sweeps to seal up cracks where you’re losing heat. Seal ductwork so you’re heating your living space and not your garage or crawl space.
Upgrade your thermostat — New “smart” models can be programmed for automatic night setback and other important features.
Check your furnace filter — Install a new filter before the heating season starts. Check it every one to three months and replace as needed.
Long-term payback
Add insulation — An energy audit can determine if you have adequate insulation in your ceiling, walls and floors. Check with the Energy Trust of Oregon.
Upgrade windows — High efficiency windows provide long-term savings. Temporary storm-window kits provide a short-term solution.
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