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10 Reasons Your Electric Bill Is So High

Opening your electric bill for one particular month, and having it double, is not what anyone wants to read.  This can be very frustrating if you didn’t change your usage in any special way.  If you aren’t able to identify the reason, that will make the moment even more aggravating.  There are times when we change usage and really don’t realize that we did. So, here are ten common causes of why electric bills increase.

1. Increased Household Size. If you have guests visiting on vacation or some family member comes to stay, that can require more electricity.  It doesn’t take much to add to the demand.  Another televisions running constantly, the refrigerator getting opened more often, they can all add up to more costs. Each item turned on is naturally going to add to your costs.
2. Electric Clothes Dryer. Maybe you just converted over to using an electric clothes dryer.  It might have been cheaper to purchase or had some other benefit you felt made it a good choice.  However, you may not have realized how much changing over to electric might add to your electric costs. If your electric dryer is not a new addition, perhaps you have been using it more often or running it longer than normal.
3. Water Beds. If you have purchased a water bed, you may have not thought about the fact that it does use electricity to run the heater. Having it filled with cold water is not the way most would want to use it, but keeping the heater running constantly could will add to your electric bill.
4. Refrigerator Over 13 Years Old. Older refrigerators may not have the same energy savings features as newer models.  They usually demand larger amounts of electricity than new models.  This could increase as the refrigerator gets older and less efficient. If your refrigerator is getting older, it may be the cause of your higher electric bill.
5. More Than One Refrigerator. You might have decided to add a second refrigerator to your home.  Perhaps it was a gift or one you are storing for someone.  But adding another appliance of any type is going to increase your power usage.
6. Cold Weather. Longer nights may add to you staying indoors more and having your  lights on longer. It can also mean using things like electric blankets. This is something you may not even give much thought at the time, but it uses electricity and can add to the bill.
7. Electric Hot Water Heater. This can also add to your bill if you had a month that you required more hot water.  Such things as more laundry, running the dishwasher more often or taking more frequent or longer showers, all add to the power used by your water heater.
8. Electric Heat. It doesn’t take much to flip a thermostat button when you are cold.  Most of us don’t stop to think about the cost at the time.  Still, those times can add to the bill very fast. Electric heat will use more power than almost anything else in your home.
9. Chest Freezer. An independent freezer that you purchase in addition to a refrigerator could add significantly to your energy costs.  The need to keep foods frozen will require it to run more energy than a refrigerator.  It is something to consider when making such a purchase.
10. Dehumidifier. There are times when you might need this type of device for health reasons.  Running them will add to your energy costs and even more so if you need to run them constantly. You may need to do that regardless of the cost, but it will still add to your bills. That is another aspect you have to take into consideration when adding this appliance to your home.

The best time to consider your electric usage is before your bill increases.  Your electric company normally can offer various possible ways to save energy.  Giving them a call can be very helpful in assisting you with ways your household can cut down energy costs.  It really doesn’t take many changes to impact the amount you have to spend on electric in a given month.

(source:changeofaddress.org)

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