Power bills have been rising in Texas, and we know it’s a bad time for most households to look at higher unavoidable bills. But it’s not just global fuel costs. The average household is also much higher tech than it used to be. More than just turning off the lights is required to lower your power bill significantly. But a comprehensive approach to reducing energy costs can make a difference.
By understanding what household items use the most electricity, you can reduce the total power usage in your home without decreasing your quality of life or the convenience that technology brings. At Power Mojo, we’re all about saving you money on electricity costs without impacting your household’s enjoyment of electricity. So let’s look at what uses the most electricity in a home.
Top 5 Appliances Consuming Electricity
We all know your AC/heat (HVAC) uses the most electricity in most homes, but what else is eating the kilowatts? Let’s do a quick rundown of the average modern home’s most energy-costly appliances and features.
Wet Appliances
- Water Heater -12%
- Dishwasher – 2%
- Washer/Dryer – 5%
Wet appliances take a lot of power to pump all that water and often generate a lot of heat. Your average tank water heater uses 12% of your power bill by electrically heating a giant tank of water repeatedly, while an on-demand water heater can be more efficient if properly installed.
Your washer and dryer can use up to 5% of your power bill, and even the dishwasher can use up to 2%, especially with heat dry turned on.
Cold Appliances
- HVAC – 45-50%
- Refrigerator – 8%
Your HVAC is the primary power eater in any household, and cooling is always an energy-expensive process, making your refrigerator a contender for the top spot in everyday energy use. Especially if you have an old or unmaintained HVAC or fridge, keeping both sets of cooling coils clean and in good repair can make a big difference.
Consumer Electronics
- TV and Cable – 2%
- Standby Mode
Big screen TVs also eat a lot of electricity to power that giant glow, but your other consumer electronics like printers, computers, and humidifiers can be power-hungry, too, even when turned off. Standby mode creates a “phantom load,” or electricity used while the appliance waits to be turned back on. You can reduce this by using a simple power strip to cut the power entirely to devices and appliances when they are not in use.
Lighting
- Light Fixtures – 9-12%
- Lamps
Lighting can take up to 21% of your monthly power bill, especially if you still use old incandescent (filament) bulbs. Switching to LED bulbs and using smart lights to turn off your lights without walking around the house (sometimes even after you leave) can help to reduce your lighting costs significantly. Remember to check your lamps for old bulbs, too.
Cooking
- Electric Oven – 3%
- Microwave
- Coffee Maker
Cooking can also use a lot of energy. Everyone knows that running your microwave alongside any other appliance can blow a breaker, even for a few seconds at a time. However, your electric oven is likely the biggest electricity consumer in the kitchen, with both high heat and long bake times. Watch out for small appliances like the coffee maker for that phantom load when you’re not brewing a cup.
Got the Best Electric Plan for Your Home?
Knowing what uses the most electricity in your home can help reduce your power bill in Texas, which will be more effective when working with the best residential electricity plan in your region. Power Mojo can help by connecting you to the best pricing plan for your household power usage and facilitating your change in providers whenever needed. We can help you analyze your power bill and will check in when your power contract is ending to make sure you’re still getting the best deal available.
How Power Mojo Protects You from Deceptive Electric Plans
When it comes to residential electricity, power companies often use deceptively arranged plans to charge you more than it seems you will pay. Your power bills aren’t just based on fuel costs and power usage. Plans have started charging for peak hours and changing the monthly cost, policies that used to only apply to power-heavy business properties. They will also quietly cancel promotional deals, increasing your power bill over time. Power Mojo can protect you from deceptive electric plans by analyzing each plan’s associated costs to help you connect with the best power plan for your home’s location and usage pattern.
Contact us today to reduce your power bill in Texas and ensure you’re getting the best deal on electricity costs yearly.
