How to Lower Your Electric Bill

Rising energy costs and bills may have many of you thinking about how to lower your electric bill. One way to do that is to decrease your energy use. Many people around the country have seen their home electric bills go up in recent years due to rising fuel costs, a global pandemic and other international events. While you can’t control those factors, there are things you can do to help reduce your electric bill.

1. Shop around for an electricity supplier

If you are looking for answers to the question, how can I lower my electric bill, start with picking a competitive energy provider. If you live in an energy choice state, you can switch from the utility company to other suppliers in a competitive marketplace.

Energy deregulation has created a competitive market for electricity, offering consumers more choices and improved service. The utility company manages the delivery of power to your home, but now, you can contract with energy suppliers that generate power and offer choices in home energy plans.

When figuring out how to choose an energy supplier, research each company’s reputation for service and dependability. Look at their plans and options. Then compare the length of the contract and the rate. Constellation offers many plans that can fit your lifestyle to potentially help you save money.

2. Switch from variable to fixed supply energy rates

Switching to a fixed rate has become a popular way to answer the how to lower my electricity bill question. With a variable rate, you pay the market price for electricity, which can change every month. The other option is to lock in a fixed rate for the length of your plan’s contract. It protects you from rate increases and gives you a more predictable way to budget.

3. Double down on energy efficiency solutions

Once you have a provider and a plan, the next step in how to lower your electric bill is to be more efficient and cut waste. The key is to change your everyday habits and invest in energy efficiency. Here are a number of home energy saving tips for ways to lower your electric bill:

• Turn off lights and unplug devices when not in use so that they are not using energy when idle
• Save energy on laundry when you wash and dry clothes in full loads to make the most of each time you run your washer and dryer
• Fully load your energy-efficient dishwasher and run it when full, which can cut down the number of times you have to run a cycle
• Check seals on windows, doors, and appliances; adding weatherstripping to gaps to prevent warm or cool air from leaking out
• Fix leaky ductwork to make sure that your systems are efficient in distributing heat or cool air
• Adjust your thermostat – raising it a few degrees in summer and lowering it a few degrees in winter could save power without affecting your comfort
• Adjust your fridge and freezer temperature so that it keeps your food fresh without wasting energy
• Keep your fridge and freezer full, as crowded spaces are more efficient in maintaining the cold temperature
• Adjust the temperature on your water heater so that you have just enough hot water, but are not wasting energy heating water that you don’t use right away
• Install ceiling fans to circulate cool air down into the room during summer or to push warm air down into the room during the winter
• Install an attic fan to vent out heat and give your air conditioner a break
• Use window coverings to add insulation and to block the heat of the sun during summer and to let it in during the winter
• Leverage off-peak energy hours to run power-hungry appliances when electricity rates may be lower
• Use energy-efficient appliances to minimize the electricity you need for them to function
• Swap out your old light bulbs to LED bulbs that use a fraction of what incandescent bulbs burn
• Install dimmer switches so that you can cut brightness and save power
• Use smart home devices and smart power strips that give you control to optimize lights and appliances and that could save you money
• Conduct a home energy audit to find ways you can improve the efficiency of your home and possibly reduce your electric bill
• Routine HVAC maintenance will keep your systems running efficiently and changing your air filters regularly will mean your unit will not have to work as hard to push out cool or warm air

See how you may be able to save on electricity supply rates with Constellation

With these energy conservation tips, you can take control and may be able to reduce your electric bill,. Learn more about Constellation and their fixed-rate plans and energy-saving tips.