10 Simple Ways to Lower Your Electric Bill

Last Updated on October 3, 2022 by Ellen Christian

Are you looking for ways to lower your electric bill? One of our goals this year is to lower our electric bill even more than it already is.  We pay between $60 and $90  a month for our electricity and while that’s not bad, we’d like to see it lower.

Ways to Lower Your Electric Bill

How low you can get your electric bill will depend on what you use electricity for. We have propane for our kitchen stove and our hot water. And, we have forced air oil heat and a wood stove.

So, our electricity isn’t impacted by these things. If you use electricity for these, your bill probably won’t be as low as mine. Check out these ideas to save energy.

Here are a few suggestions we’re currently using.  Try some of these ideas if you want to lower your electric bill.

Turn down the thermostat

Even if you don’t heat with electricity, the motor on your furnace is still using electricity every single time your furnace comes on.    Turn down the temperature a degree or two (or more) when you’re at home. 

You can always put on an extra sweater or blanket.  Turn it down, even more, when you go out for the afternoon or when you go to bed at night.

Wrap your hot water heater

You can get an insulation wrap at the hardware store that you put around your hot water heater.  It helps keep the water warm so your hot water heater doesn’t come on as much. Make sure you measure your hot water heater to get the right size.

Use fluorescent bulbs

Replace all your light bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs CFLs.  While they are more money initially, they will pay for themselves in six months and use less electricity.

Skip the clothes dryer

Hang your clothes to dry instead of putting them in the dryer.  You have no idea how much our electric bill dropped when we stopped using the dryer.  You can put them on a drying rack and put the rack over a heating vent.  In the warmer months, hang them outside on the clothes line to dry. This is one of the easiest ways to lower your electric bill.

Watch phantom loads

Unplug appliances you aren’t using. Many appliances still draw electricity even if they are shut off.  It’s called a phantom load. 

If your appliance has an LED display for the time like your game system or coffee pot it’s using electricity even when it’s off.  Your cable box uses electricity even when your TV is off.

Turn it off

Turn off what you’re not using.  That holds true for everything not, just lights.  Do you leave your computer on all day even when not using it?

Do you run the TV for background noise even when you’re not watching it?

Consider alternatives

Do you need to use the oven or will a crock pot do?  Check out these tips for using a slow cooker.

How about a solar oven? You’d be surprised how easy it is to cook in a solar oven.  There are lots of build-your-own instructions out there if you don’t want to purchase one. I love my solar oven.

Clean the filters or the vents

Your furnace and air conditioner have filters and will run more efficiently when they are clean.  Your refrigerator, computer, etc. have vents on them that need to be cleaned occasionally so they can run the most effectively.

Stop the leaks!

A simple tube of caulk can fix places where warm air is leaking out of your house (or cold in the summer).  Try draft dodgers against the door.  The more heat you keep inside, the less your furnace will come on.

Scale down

Evaluate your needs before you buy.  Do you need the largest refrigerator that exists?  Does it have to make water, ice and talk to you too?  Be realistic about wants versus needs. Smaller things with fewer bells and whistles often use less electricity.

How will you lower your electric bill? Check out these easy ways to make your home energy efficient.

• Tips to lower your electric bill
• How to reduce your electric bill quickly