In 2022, the national average residential electricity rate was up eight percent in January from a year earlier, the biggest annual increase in more than a decade.* Although the pandemic-era stay-at-home mandates have passed, many homeowners have noticed their electric still bill takes up a significant portion of their monthly income. Here are four steps homeowners can take to reduce energy usage, that will have little or no impact on day-to-day life.

1. Make the Fridge More Efficient
Check the recommended temperatures for the refrigerator and freezer, and compare them to current settings. Money may be able to be saved by raising the temperature settings a few degrees and food can still be kept cold enough. 

Another way to reduce the amount of energy the refrigerator uses is to keep it full. Food can act as insulation to help the refrigerator regulate its temperature and use less electricity. 

2. Minimize Energy Usage When Washing Dishes and Clothes
Be strategic when it comes to running the dishwasher. Only run it when it’s full so that electricity and water aren't wasted. If the dishwasher is run at night, a time when there isn’t peak demand, the electric company will likely charge a lower rate than it would charge during the day.

The dryer’s exhaust vent can get clogged with lint. That can make the dryer run less efficiently, which means it may need to be run multiple times to get a load of laundry dry. Cleaning the dryer vent regularly can help avoid wasting electricity and keep utility bills low. Hanging clothes on a line or drying rack to air dry is another simple way to reduce the amount of energy used to do laundry. 

3. Save Energy on Lighting, Heating and Cooling
Switch all the lightbulbs in the home to energy-efficient LEDs to lower the electricity bill immediately. Control the amount of light and heat that enters the home. In the summer, closing the blinds or curtains during the hottest times of day can keep the home cool to lower use of the air conditioner, saving money in the long run.

4. Unplug Unused Appliances
A good deal of energy is wasted by keeping appliances, such as a coffee maker, plugged in when they’re not being used. Get in the habit of unplugging appliances when they are not being used. There may be a substantial drop in the electricity bill, as a result.

Adapted from an article published by RIS media
*Source: High Electric Bills Get Ready for Another Energy Price Spike: High Electric Bills - The New York Times (nytimes.com)