WHY IS MY ELECTRICITY BILL SO HIGH?

Exploring Reasons & Solutions

High Utility Bills - Reasons

High utility bills, especially electricity, can be linked to a variety of reasons. 

In 2024, the average electric bill in California rings up to $186, which is over 29% higher than the average U.S residential bill. 

Understanding why your electric bill is high is a great place to start when wanting to start reducing it. Some common reasons include:

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1) Changing Temperatures

Regardless of where you live, the temperatures will change from season to season. For some people, the difference from hot, sunny summers to cold, snowy winters is notable. For others living in more temperate areas, the change may be less extreme. Either way, the change of just 20-30 degrees is enough to start using more energy than usual. Especially with cooler, shorter days needing more heat, more light, and also increased hot water usage. Generating hot water uses about 18% of a home’s energy use. If you tend to take longer, hotter showers or baths as the temperatures drop, that could be your culprit.

Solution

Compare your energy bill month to month. It is important to understand your own electricity trends and efficiency. This can help you get a better idea of what your personal energy usage is, and if it varies significantly as the seasons change. Remember, slight seasonal bill fluctuations are normal. If you are looking to be more efficient with your energy, close the doors to rooms when you run your heat. This traps the warm air in the room, making it feel warmer faster and for longer. For hot water cost savings, set a timer to limit your showers. 

2) Energy Vampires

One of the constant energy usages in the home is through electrical appliances. From fridges, to ovens, to microwaves, to TVs, to lamps, to anything else that may be plugged into an outlet, energy is being constantly used. While some appliances need to be plugged in 24/7, like the fridge, others do not. Many plugged in appliances, even when turned off, will continuously be drawing electricity. Most modern appliances don’t actually shut off when they are turned off. They tend to stay in a “stand by” mode, causing them to still use a bit of electricity whenever they are plugged in. These types of appliances are known as “energy vampires”. This continuous usage can contribute to nearly 10% of a home’s overall energy use. 

Solution

Start off by remembering to turn off lights, fans, and space heaters when leaving a room. Even a small bathroom light can cause major costs if left on all the time. Consider which appliances can be unplugged on a day to day basis. While microwaves, fridges, and ovens generally need to stay plugged in, other  countertop appliances like toasters, coffee makers, and blenders are easy targets to unplug throughout the day. Additionally, items like phone chargers and computer chargers are common energy vampires that are often left plugged in even after they are done being used. Reducing the phantom load used by these items make for great bill-saving strategies.

3) Appliances Need an Upgrade

Major home appliances can be expensive. It is normal to want to keep your fridges, freezers, ovens, water heaters, dishwashers, clothing washers, and dryers until they are at the end of their life. But, older appliances are often much more inefficient than their more modern counterparts. What you may be saving in cost to not replace older appliances, you may be spending in your electric bill. Modern home appliances are designed to be more energy efficient and have energy efficient settings or cycles. 

Solution

Consider the age of your appliances. If one of your appliances seems to be rather dated, replacing it with a newer, more efficient version can help with your overall energy consumption and bill costs. If you have a newer appliance, look into the settings and cycles offered. Most newer appliances offer energy efficient or environmentally friendly options. This is most common in dishwashers, clothing washers, and dryers. Small energy reduction throughout the month can be a notable  cost-saving strategy. 

4) Peak Hour Energy Usage

While seasonal changes come with seasonal energy demands, there are other times where energy demands can shift. Peak energy hours refer to the times of day or times of year where the energy is at the greatest level of need, and at its greatest level of cost. Because peak hours are when energy is used most, the cost per unit of energy also goes up. Peak hours are often during the day, when businesses are running and people are working, going to school, etc. If you’re using electricity during your area’s peak hours, you may be paying a higher rate than you realize. With the newer popularity of working from home, more and more people are using electricity during the peak times. 

Solution

Understand the peak times in your area. Keep in mind, this can vary depending on location, season, energy supplier, and a variety of other factors. If you have major appliances that need to be run, consider using them during off hours. This can look like running the dishwasher or dryer right before going to bed when energy demand is much lower than during the day. Consider opening your blinds to let in natural light to avoid using overhead lights and lamps during the day. 

5) HVAC Maintenance Needed

Like all things, even your HVAC system needs to be maintained. If a system has gone too long without being properly serviced, it is likely working harder than it needs to, contributing to energy overuse and a higher electrical bill costs. Clogged filters, worn parts, and rusty pieces cause HVAC units to be inefficient and use far more energy than needed to maintain stable temperatures in your home, upping the electricity consumption. The older a unit gets, the more consistent maintenance is necessary to keep the systems functioning smoothly and efficiently.

Solution

Create a maintenance schedule for your HVAC units. Take an inventory of the units in your home that require scheduled maintenance, and mark on a calendar when you want each to be serviced. Typically, each unit should be inspected prior to its peak season. Air conditioners should be prepped prior to the hot summer months, and heaters should be looked at before it starts to get too cold. Often HVAC companies will let you make appointments one year out from your current appointment, to ensure consistent, scheduled maintenance. 

6) Leaky Air and Damaged Home Insulation

A home’s insulation and sea is the first defense it has to the outside temperatures. Insulation helps keep the inside temperature of a home consistent, whether that’s hot air in on a cold day, or cool air in on a hot day. If the insulation is damaged or the seals begin to leak air, your home will have a much harder time keeping the inside temperatures consistent, causing air conditioners and heaters to work twice as hard, resulting in an increased electric bill. 

Solution

Ask your local HVAC team to perform an energy audit. An energy audit is used to see how much energy a home uses, and areas where there may be issues on inefficiencies. Energy audits can be helpful in identifying areas of your home where there are insulation issues, air leaks, and other sources of energy loss. Finding these issues and patching them up can help put dollars back into your pocket by reducing overall electrical costs. 

Consider Solar + Battery Backup

If you are already doing everything you can to make your traditional electrical system as efficient as it can be, consider moving into solar + battery backup. Setting up solar panels + and battery backup for your home is a great way to lower your electrical costs and improve your home’s overall electrical efficiency.

Aside from utility cost savings, solar panels + battery backup can offer a variety of other benefits including electrical grid security, inexpensive energy usage even at peak hours,  long term savings, and a more sustainable way of living. Solar panels + Battery Backup can be a large investment, especially given the up front price tag. But, over time the electrical savings can offset the original cost, and in California, there are several incentives for switching to solar + battery backup. Ask your local solar experts about what a solar + battery backup can do to reduce your energy costs. 

Call Us Today

Citadel Roofing and Solar are your local and trusted choice for everything solar, battery backup and roofing related. As industry experts, Citadel Roofing and Solar is the best resource for learning about solar savings and how to upgrade your electrical efficiency and lower overall utility costs. Call us today to get started. 

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