Managing Your Holiday Energy Bills
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Why do energy bills rise during the holidays?
The holiday season is a time for joy and togetherness, but it can also lead to higher energy bills. From festive lighting and family gatherings to electricity-powered decorations and spending more time indoors, it’s easy for energy and water usage to increase during this time of year.
We know that more energy usage means higher bills. So how can you keep the holiday cheer alive while being mindful of your energy consumption? Here are some simple, effective tips:
Optimize Your Heating Usage – Set your thermostat wisely, lowering the temperature when you sleep or are away from home. A few degrees can make a huge difference in your bill.
Energy Efficient Lighting – Holiday lighting with LED lights - which consume 80% less energy and last longer than traditional incandescent bulbs – will save you on your electric bill. Timers reduce usage by regularly turning off your lights. And consider focusing on fewer, high-impact decorations instead of excessively electrically lit displays.
Wise Appliance and Electronics Use – Consider unplugging electronics and appliances when not used, as many draw power even when turned off. Cook efficiently by using lids on pots and pans to cook faster and use smaller appliances like microwaves or slow cookers, which consume less energy than a full-sized electric oven.
A La Niña Winter?
La Niña is a naturally occurring global climate pattern where the trade winds intensify, and cold water from the sea depths rises, resulting in cooler-than-average ocean temperatures in the eastern Pacific. This change in ocean temperatures and the atmosphere affects the position of the jet stream, which, in turn, influences the path storms take and boosts precipitation.
The NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center recently said there is a 60% chance that a La Niña event will develop this autumn and could persist until March. If a La Niña occurs, residents in the northern U.S., including Ohio and the Northeast, should expect a colder and wetter winter. More frigid weather increases reliance on our heating systems, resulting in higher usage and energy bills, particularly compared to last year’s mild winter in these parts of the country.
La Niña is not a foregone conclusion, but it is wise to be prepared. Here are some conservation tips to help you better manage your energy bills this winter. Additionally, those who rely on electricity for their heating system (as most multifamily residents do) should understand how your unit’s heat pump can affect your energy bills.
Check Your Rate
Ohio residents can easily verify the accuracy of their NEP bill for their metered electricity portion of the bill. Nationwide Energy Partners (NEP) is required to ensure that residents are billed at or below the amount they would have been charged under the local utility’s standard service offer for the same usage. To confirm your bill accuracy, you can visit the Utility Rate Survey Dashboard provided by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). Additionally, Ohio electric utilities are required to make this rate information available on their websites.
If you have any questions on how to use the dashboard or find the rates on the host utilities’ sites, or if you do not reside in Ohio, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Resident Support experts at 877-818-2637, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 6:00 pm EST.