When winter rolls around, your thoughts may turn to curling up with a warm drink and some nice reading material. May we suggest settling in to take a nice long gander at your utility bills?
Don’t scoff. Getting into a little more detail with your heating and electricity charges could be one of the most pleasant activities you engage in this winter. Don’t believe it? If you are currently being charged for peak time energy usage, take a look at that section of your bills. With peak rates in some cases five times as high as non-peak charges, you have now identified a target for potentially huge savings. Now that’s fun to think about!
Find the time
If they aren’t listed on your bills, contact your utilities provider(s) to confirm the days and times when they charge the highest rates for service. In the beginning it can help to post a list of these times on your refrigerator or other commonly-seen appliance as a reminder.
Be food smart
Consistently using an oven to cook meals during the high rate times can send your utility bills skyrocketing. But with peak periods often running until 9pm, you may balk at the idea of waiting until the late evening to cook a meal. Keep in mind that a microwave uses much less energy than a stove. Cooking meals late at night and then heating them up in the microwave the next evening can save you a bundle over time.
Wash wisely
If your preferred time to wash dishes or clothes falls during a peak rate period, it can be helpful to give yourself a little reminder to find a better time. Set an alarm or reminder to go off on your laptop or mobile device when peak hour rates end. That way you can do these high-consumption tasks at the appropriate hour.
Read a book
We’re not going to suggest that your energy bill is the only thing you read this winter. By snuggling up under the covers with a book and a nicely-illuminating candle, you can become an energy-saving triple threat. You don’t need to keep the temperature as high on your thermostat, you aren’t sucking up energy through the TV or other entertainment devices, and you don’t need to have any lights on. It’s a win-win-win situation.
By making a few small adjustments to your schedule, you can save hundreds of dollars per year without depriving yourself of anything.
Find Your Balance 