Electricity Deals
Everyone loves a bargain, and they are always looking for one. Not many think about looking for one when it comes to their electric bill. They probably think that there isn’t much you can do to save money on that. You would be surprised to know that you will find deals when it comes to electricity.
There are ways that you could save on your bill that doesn’t take much effort on your part. You could also ask for relief from your bills when that is needed. There are ways to do both if you just know how to do it.
If you are having issues with paying for your bills, there are things that you could do. You can get help with your strøm or current bill by contacting your provider. They usually have programs where they can provide some assistance to you.
This article will help you to learn more about getting deals for electricity. It will also help you to learn how to get assistance when you need it. You should also do more research to find the information that you need.
Electricity Deals
Check with Your Provider
Check with your provider to see what programs they have to help you pay less on your bill. They usually have programs that will help you with those bills that are too high. If you can’t find what you are looking for by calling your provider or visiting their website, you can go to LowIncomeRelief.com/Power. You will find the information that you need at that site.
This site was created by someone who needed help with her own electric bills and did the research to find the information she needed. She decided to help friends and family with the information and then started the site to share the information with more people. Search for your state in the site and get the help that you need.
Also search for other local programs that provide relief. One program is the LIHEAP, or Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. They can help provide assistance for all your energy bills and help with emergency assistance, as well. There are LIHEAP programs in most states.
There are other state assistance programs depending on the state that you live in. You can contact your energy provider and ask them to provide the numbers or websites for these programs. They should have a list of all the programs that can assist you.
Ask the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, for assistance. They can also help you if you are having issues with eviction. They have programs that can assist you with your energy bills. You just need to find your state on the list and go from there.
Once you find your state on the list, go to the part that says utility assistance. Different states have different places to go on their websites, so you just need to look for it. You might need to look under a subheading called “Rental Help.”
If you are looking for clean energy, there are other programs that can help you with that. There is a comprehensive database that you can search to find information about that. It is called Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency, or DSIRE: https://www.dsireusa.org/. This has a list of incentives for each state.
Your county might also have options for you. You might find some of the same programs that are available in your state, but you might find new ones, as well. Search your county’s website and you could search for utility programs on it. They should have a list of everything that they have.
Apply for incentives for using renewable energy. These include solar energy, wind turbines, geothermal heat pumps, and fuel cells. If you are using any of these sources of energy, apply for the incentives from these programs. Check the Energy Star website to see if you qualify for any of them.
If you have solar energy, take part in net metering. This allows you to install extra solar panels and then sell your extra energy back to the power company. They will give you credit for your future bills. If you need to use the grid for your electricity after that, you can use those credits.
Other Helpful Hints
- Energy Audit – Begin with an energy audit. This will tell you where you are using your energy, and where you are losing it. This could include windows that aren’t sealed correctly, doors that may have cracks that are too large, and other places where energy might escape.
If you fix each of these issues, you could save hundreds of dollars per year. This is money that you could use on other bills. This is an easy way to save money on your energy.
This is something that you could do on your own, or you could hire a professional to do it for you. A professional may be able to show you more areas than you could find on your own. Sometimes, these professionals will charge you a little money, but most will do this a free service.
- Smart Devices – Smart devices can also help you save on your electricity bill. There are many different smart devices that can help you including a thermostat, thermometers, light bulbs, power strips, power plugs, and sprinklers. You should use these to program when you are using energy and when you want it turned off.
Using these smart devices can save you hundreds of dollars. They are easy to install, and you can do most of the installation on your own. You might need a professional to install a thermostat or the power plugs, but even these are easy to install.
- Curtains and Blinds – Use curtains and blinds during the summer to block out the summer sun. This helps your HVAC system work more effectively and helps to save you money. You should also use window tinting if you would rather not have curtains or blinds.
If you use curtains, use blackout curtains to block out most of the light. Blinds should be the kind that will block out light, as well. There are blinds that don’t keep the light out, so try to avoid these.
- Yearly HVAC Maintenance – You also need to make sure that you do maintenance on your system at least once a year. You need to make sure that it is cleaned regularly. You could do this on your own or hire a professional to do it for you.
Some of the things that you should look at are the filters and the condenser coils. You should change the filter on your own, just make sure that you get the right size. Cleaning the coils is also an easy job, but you might want to hire a professional for this because you could harm the coils.
- LED Bulbs – Another thing that you could do is switch to LED bulbs. Each one of these bulbs can save you hundreds of dollars each year. Incandescent bulbs will use more energy and will cost you more money.
LED bulbs are easy to find and are very common nowadays. They are easier to find than incandescent bulbs. They might be a little more to buy them, but they will save you money over time.
- Water Heater – Lowering the temperature of your hot water heater can also save you some money. The ideal temperature for these is one hundred degrees. Anything lower than this can cause bacteria to form, anything higher can scald you.
Having the ideal temperature will also save you hundreds per year. You will still be comfortable in your showers, and you will still get clean. By using antibacterial soap, you can make sure that you are getting as clean as you should.
- Appliances – You should also upgrade your appliances to Energy Star rated appliances. This is especially true if your appliances are older than ten years. You could save hundreds of dollars per year if you are using Energy Star appliances.
One appliance that can help you to save money is your washing machine. You could set it on cold water and not use the heat cycle. There are even detergents that are made to work with cold water.
Conclusion
There are many ways that you could get deals for your energy usage. You can get assistance if you need it from many public programs. You can also do some things on your own to save money. You can save thousands of dollars per year if you follow some of these suggestions.
If you are having difficulties paying your energy bills, call your provider immediately. You don’t want your energy turned off when you need it most. Most providers will be happy to help you or to point you in the direction of people who can help you. Don’t be embarrassed to get the help that you need, even the wealthiest people have needed help at some time.