Public Service Commission Chairman Lane’s column: Costs and rates for residential electric bills

PRESS RELEASE

Air conditioning and heating are going to be the largest components of your monthly electric bill.

Let me take you through a number of things mentioned by the website ElectricRates.org.

• Your bill can fluctuate because of old appliances, which can use vast quantities of power through inefficiency.
• ElectricRates.org says heating and A-C account for between 40 and 60 percent of the average homeowner’s electric bill.
• This site suggests you can help control your electric rates by setting your thermostat to 78 degrees in the summer and 68 degrees in the winter. It helps if you can use a programmable thermostat. If not, fix the temperature by hand.
• Check for leaks around windows and doors. This can be costly.

Check your current bill against the same month last year to see if this is one reason your costs have increased.

Old and inefficient appliances account for 10 to 25 percent of a customer’s bill. 

Consider replacing your older appliances with energy-efficient devices that bear an Energy Star certification.

Water heaters can account for between 14 and 18 percent of your bill. 

To help in this area, you should fix the temperature at 120 degrees. Try to insulate your tank or consider a tankless or heat-pump water heater.

Devices on standby – what we call phantom loads, such as TVs, computers, chargers, and gaming consoles – all draw power when we think they are turned off.

Consider using power strips to actually turn them off. Unplug chargers when they are not needed.

The old standby — the space heater — can cost you 10 to 30 percent more on your bill.

An average-sized space heater that runs eight hours a day can add 35 to 50 dollars to your monthly bill. Use sparingly and not for whole rooms. Keep rooms closed when the heaters are in play, and consider using a blanket instead.

Electric dryers, pool pumps, and poor insulation all have varying impact levels on your electric bill. 

Poor insulation and air leaks can amount to up to 20 percent of your bill.

You should seal gaps with caulk or use weather-stripping. Put insulation in your attic.

And if you have an electric vehicle, that can add 25 to 60 dollars a month to your bill, depending on your rate.

Try to charge during off-peak hours.

All of us worry about our power bills. And I’m with you in having those concerns.

I hope this gives you some ideas about how you can manage yours.