5 Simple Ways to Kill Your Home Energy Bill

So, I have been getting quite a few questions lately about how I am able to reduce our energy bills! Other than to say I’m cheap there are plenty of practical things we’ve been doing over the years to keep our energy costs low!

We first started with a serious look at our monthly energy bills to see if there was anything we could do to save some money even before we started running around turning off all the light switches!

Shop Around – If you live in an area that allows for competition, shop around and see if you’re being offered the lowest rates and the best discounts! The American Coalition of Competitive Energy Suppliers (ACCES) offers a state-by-state list of competitive retail natural gas and electricity suppliers. Although many cities may not offer this choice, you can still inquire about peak and non-peak hours for consumption and adjust usage accordingly.
Compare Past Usage – Start your energy savings by comparing your previous usage. What season do you have your highest bills? Winter? Summer? On average, are your bills the same every month, or are they spiking by season?
Look for Discounts – Do you qualify for a discount based on income? Are you enrolled in an energy saving plan? Does your employer offer any type of discount? Have you contacted your energy company to see what they recommend as far as reducing costs?
Go Paperless – Many companies offer a discount for simply opting out of receiving a paper copy of the bill! You can still view your bill online and even compare usage from month to month.
Set Up Payments – I have our monthly bill payments set on “autopay” with a maximum “approved” amount of $50. That means, I have authorized any monthly payments up to $50, and anything over that amount I will need to go online and pay. This keeps me aware of our energy usage and helps in figuring out where those huge bills are coming from!