Heat messing with your electricity bill? Here is some advice to keep costs down

Reporter: Andryanna Sheppard
Published: Updated:

It’s getting hotter and hotter outside which means electric bills are going to go up even more.

Electricity costs about 11% more than it did a year ago, according to the Bureau of Statistics.

But saving on electricity can be as cheap and easy as buying smart power strips that automatically turn off electricity to things you don’t need or getting a new water heater that is more energy-efficient.

Bill Watkins, with Best Home Services, said making sure the cold air stays inside can keep the bill down.

“Look at upgrading to more modern insulation or, or spray foam insulation, what that’s going to do is to fix the envelope. So, the AC doesn’t have to work as hard to cool hot air that’s coming from the outside,” Watkins said.

Watkins said adding your filters once a month helps keep the AC running efficiently too.

And it may be a little uncomfortable but when you leave the house for a day, turn the thermostat to 78 degrees.

“Every degree below 78 degrees exponentially increases your electricity bill,” Watkins said.

Also, try switching out your lightbulbs. Regular incandescent bulbs use 75% more energy than LED ones.

“If you’re not in a room, even if you’re using LED bulbs, turn the light off, turn the fans off, you’re gonna save a ton of electricity that way,” Watkins said.

Another tip?

Take a look at the yellow energy guide sticker on your appliances.

They provide an estimate of how much the appliance will cost you each year.

To learn more about the stickers, visit the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Advice guide.

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