Moving to another state isn’t only exciting, but it also requires a lot of planning and investigation. After all, there are numerous things that you have to explore and learn, and what’s more, this can even take some time. This list depends on your personal requirements, whether you have a family or not, etc.
Nevertheless, the utility bill is one of the expenses that you won’t be able to avoid in the future. Due to this reason, this cost should be at the top of your list of things to inquire about before moving. Well, we will facilitate this process for you, so we will discuss the electricity prices and provide you with some tips on how to cut down the cost.
What affects the electricity bill?
First thing first, we have to break down this cost and analyze every part of it. It is the only way to be sure that we understand how it works, and therefore, we will be able to come up with different tips to reduce it.
The first two things that we will discuss are consumption and electricity rates. These probably came to your mind as soon as you read the words “break down” the cost. The math is simple – the more people you have in your home, the higher the bill will be. Why? Because, without a doubt, you will use more electricity, and there is nothing you can do about it. Another thing, when it comes to consumption, you cannot really compare your household to your neighbors. Yes, the size of the house plays a significant role, but still, the expense between two properties can vary greatly.
Next on, we have electricity rates. A lot of people might assume that these are more-or-less the same for the entire country, but the truth is that they differ between states. For example, states with the lowest rates are Texas, Nevada, and Virginia, while those with the most expenses ones are Hawaii, Alaska, and California. These rates are calculated on a monthly basis, so if you want to investigate the cost of electricity per kWh by state, our advice is to visit energybot.com, because they collect the data and update the charts constantly.
What affects electricity rates?
Now, let us introduce you to the factors that affect the electricity rates in every state, making them unique. First of all, there is a question of the time of the day. This might seem ridiculous, but if you want to lower this cost and save some money, you should start thinking about the time of the day you wash your laundry. In addition, this is something that also depends on your energy supplier. Simply put, they use complex calculations to predict the demand for electricity throughout the entire day. Naturally, if you use more of it when this demand is high, it will cost the supplier more, so in return, they will charge you at high rates, which will increase your monthly bill.
Moreover, the time of the year, i.e., season, also plays a significant role. Naturally, we are talking about the heating and cooling system. In some states, where the winter is mild and the summer is excruciatingly hot, people spend more electricity on the AC and other cooling systems, and vice versa.
This brings us to the next factor – the location of your property. Interestingly, the rates can vary between areas in the same state, and the simple answer to the question of why this is the case is supply and demand. Some areas have a plentiful supply, but the people cannot use it, so the cost of rates is low.
How to calculate the average bill?
Before we tell you about this equation, you have to understand that there are additional expenses that you have to include, such as taxes and other fees. It means that electricity rates and consumption aren’t the only things that affect your monthly expenses. So, the equation that you should be using is:
Average Kilowatt Hours Used x Average Cents per Kilowatt Hour ÷ 100 = Average Electric Bill
As you see, you will have to investigate the rates in your area and try to calculate the time an appliance is being used to calculate the average monthly cost.
How to lower the bill?
Before we conclude this article, let us give you some tips on how to use less electricity. After all, this is a utility expense that you cannot eliminate, because well, you know, it is the 21st century. Still, this doesn’t mean that you can’t cut down this cost by making some alterations.
Let’s begin with the heating and cooling system because these are the main culprits for the high bill. Firstly, you should check the seals on doors, windows, as well as appliances. It is the best way to make sure that the cold air isn’t entering your home, meaning that you won’t have to crank up the heating. While on the subject of heating, we have one more tip for you. Install the programmable thermostat. This device will enable you to determine the temperature for every part of the day, so you won’t have to set them manually. Also, if you were to lower it during the night or when not home, you would decrease the bill up to around 10%.
Furthermore, let’s discuss the light because there are so many things that you can do. The LED light bulbs are probably the first thing that comes to your mind, and you are right. For starters, you should switch to these in the most used light fixtures in the home, such as the kitchen and living room. In addition, you should also install dimmer switches. These will not only use less electricity, but they will also increase your comfort. They will enable you to use as much light as you need, nothing more and nothing less.
Finally, you should get an energy audit. Most utility companies offer this service to their clients, and you should definitely use it, especially if you have just moved to a new house. They will meticulously explore the entire property and locate additional tricks that will enable you to decrease the usage of electricity.