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The ElectraLite
June 2017
Why is my Electric Bill so High? Several Factors Affect Electric Usage and Your Monthly Bill
If your electric bill seems higher than it used to be, it’s time to investi- gate.
1. Check your history. First, verify that the bill actually is higher. Visit your electric cooperative’s web site or ask someone there for help pulling up your bills for the past year. You might be surprised to see that your electricity use fluctuates depend- ing on the season, and that your bill is always higher in the summer. 2. Check your non-electrical
activity. Does your high bill reflect a past-due amount or any one-time ser- vice fees, like deposits, disconnection fees or returned check fees? 3. Check the weather. Fluctua- tions in outdoor temperatures can lead your family to turn the air condition- ing up a little higher on especially hot days. Most people with air condition- ing use more electricity during the hottest summer months than at other times of the year.
4. Check how many days are in the billing cycle. Depending on the number of days in the month and whether the bill comes due on a weekend or holiday, it could cover a couple of extra days some months. That would make the bill slightly higher.
5. Check what’s plugged in. If you thought your bill would be lower during a month when your family was gone on vacation part of the time, you might be surprised to realize that your appliances still use substantial elec- tricity when the house is empty. Your refrigerator, landscape irrigator and well pump, for instance, keep running while you’re gone unless you have unplugged them. In fact, any appli- ance that is plugged into the wall will
use electricity while you’re on vaca- tion, even though nobody is home to use them.
6. Check your equipment. As appliances like refrigerators and water heaters age, they become more inefficient. If your air conditioning and heating system or another large appliance is more than 15 years old, consider replacing it with a more energy-efficient model. 7. Check your lifestyle. If your college-age child is home for the summer, chances are, your electric bill will be a bit higher than it was while she was away. If your grand- kids are enjoying their vacation at your house, your bill could go up.
If you’ve had house guests, you’ve used more electricity. And if you have added a major appliance, like a pool with a pump, a hot tub or even an oversized TV, that has affected your electric bill.
8. Don’t check with the neigh-
bors. No two families use electricity the same way, so if you believe your bill is too high because your neigh- bor’s is lower, you’re not making an even comparison. The better compari- son is between your use of electricity now compared with the same time last year. To discuss how your electric usage affects your monthly bill, call Canadian Valley.
Statement of Non-Discrimination
Canadian Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc., is the recipient of Federal financial assistance from the Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and is subject to the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture which provide that no person in the United States on the basis of race, color, national origin, age or handicap shall be excluded from participation in, admis- sion or access to, denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimi- nation under any of this organization’s programs or activities. The person responsible for coordinating this organization’s nondiscrimina- tion compliance efforts is Colin Whitley, General Manager. Any individual, or specific class of individuals, who feels that this organization has subjected them to discrimination may obtain further information about the statutes and regulations listed 907231000 above from and/or file a written complaint with this organization; or the Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washing- ton, D.C. 20250; or the Administrator, Rural Utilities Service, Washington, D.C. 20250. Complaints must be filed within 180 days after the alleged dis- crimination. Confidentiality will be maintained to the extent possible.
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