Electricity usage is one of the most important things in every home; but it doesn’t come without a cost, as other utilities do. The average household in the UK spends around £1,138, annually, on power and heating, when paying their gas and electric bills.
So, the issue of electricity consumption and electric bills is worthy of being paid attention to as it takes a chunk out of one’s earnings.
It has been estimated that people consume energy mostly between 6pm-9pm at home with the peak being at 8pm. This is because; they are mostly at home, around this time.
Also, it has been discovered that electricity usage in a home rises in the morning, goes down during working hours, and rises back in the evening.
Now, electricity is vital in every home as it helps in heating, air conditioning, cooking, water supply, laundry, etc.
Why is my Electric Bill so High?
The bill you are charged for electricity usage monthly is dependent on several factors, such as your location, your property type, number of inhabitants in your house, number and types of gadgets used, tariff type, the season of the year, etc.
An increase in the number of people in a house would surely lead to an increase in the number of phones and laptops in use, space heating, and water usage. This is a non-negotiable and valid point for a high electric bill.
Also, during winter, more heating is needed in the house. And it has been estimated that space heating is responsible for two-third of energy usage and half of the electricity bills in UK homes.
Being on an expensive tariff or an increase in prices by your energy supplier is also another reason why your electric bill is high.
How the Pandemic Affected Electric Bills?
During the pandemic, a lot of employees had to start working from home, to curb the spread of the Coronavirus and this affected a lot of things, electricity usage inclusive.
When at work, the electricity bills used in heating the workspace, providing water, and charging laptops and phones were footed by employers. However, in the case of working from home, people spend more time at home which automatically equates to using more energy.
People have to keep themselves warm in the house to enable them work comfortably; hence, the necessity of heating. Also, the usage of water to cook and for drinking during the day increases as people work from home.
The amount of electricity used in the home is affected by several factors. However, it can still be controlled, and reduced by different means.
How to Reduce Electric Bills?
Now, what are some of the ways to reduce your electricity bills and still be comfortable using light? Some useful tips that can help out will be shared here.
To start with, understand your bills. When you understand your bills, you can detect how you are charged for electricity depending on the gadgets you use. This knowledge then empowers you to tackle the main issue, which is how you consume electricity with your gadgets. Afterwards, you can use the following tips:
Make sure to switch off unused appliances. If you’re using your phone or laptop, there is probably no need to switch on the TV since you won’t be watching it. Unused appliances should also be put off standby.
Also, heating controls can be used to heat the specific parts of the house that are in use. Set different room temperatures for different areas of the house as preferred and keep the house at a heat level that is necessary for your comfort.
Another useful tip is to use efficient and energy-saving appliances. New appliances typically save more energy, than their older counterparts.
Using energy-saving bulbs like an LED bulb is also instrumental in reducing your electric bill. In addition to this, they cost less and last longer. So, double win!
Another important thing to do, to reduce your energy usage is to be smart with your water usage. Use a bowl to wash plates instead of running water. Use a good showerhead instead of running a bath.
Paying through direct debit rather than using a prepaid meter also saves you more money.
How to Calculate Electricity Bills?
Now, how do you calculate your electric bill so that you are in the know about what you are paying for?
It is estimated that 60% of people find their electric bills confusing. This is so due to some of the terms used in these bills. However, it is not an insurmountable task. With few tips, you would get the hang of it.
First of all, you have to figure out the energy usage of each of your home appliances. This would help you know where the energy is being consumed the most.
Most appliances have this written on them with the K designation. Afterwards, know your kWH. Your kWH stands for “Kilowatt Hour”, that is, a measure of how much energy you are consuming per hour.
Then find out the price you pay per kWH of electricity.
Now, to the calculation:
Step 1: Multiply the amount of energy usage of each device with the number of hours of usage per day.
Example: A 200-watt Television set which runs for 5 hours per day.
200 × 5 =1000
Step 2: Divide the answer by 1000
1000 ÷ 1000 =1
Step 3: Then multiply the answer, by the price you pay, per kWH of Electricity.
For instance, you pay 15 cents per kWH.
So: 1×15= 15
This is the amount you pay per kWH.
Checking for other gadgets, you can estimate how much energy you consume in a day, then calculate it for a month and it all adds up.
This method may seem tiring, due to the rigorous calculations it would require. Hence, companies like Curb, Neuron, and Sense have applications that you can use to calculate your electric bills at a rate.
How Much is Electricity per Unit?
Electricity is measured in kWH, just like the weight is measured in kgs.
So, to know the amount of electricity per unit, it would be measured in terms of kWH as explained above. The average amount of electricity per unit is 12.5/kWh.
Now, the amount of electricity you consume daily will be determined depending on the number and types of appliances you use. This would then add up to your monthly and annual bills.
Refrigerators and freezers consume more electricity since they are mostly always on, throughout the day. They are followed by wet appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines etc.
Then microwaves, electric cookers, light bulbs, television sets, laptops, phones, etc come next.
Reducing your electric bills takes a consistent observation of how you consume electricity and applying the given tips to reduce it. A huge range of electrical services (domestic as well as for your business) is made available at C&M Electrical Contractors across Leicestershire. We are NICEIC approved and strive to give timely and efficient delivery. With over 30 years of experience, we provide all the services are provided at a competitive price that would be affordable and worth the hard work that we put to deliver the best results.
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