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Billing FAQs
Look for possible causes of higher electric use.
Here are a few areas where problems can occur.
Consider Living Habits
Compare living habits to the dates of consumption shown on the bill. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Did we have guests during that period?
- Were our habits different?
- Was it extremely cold?
- Was it extremely hot or humid?
- Did we turn off the air conditioner or heat while we were out of town?
- Did we turn the water heater off during our absence?
- Was there any illness during that period?
- Are there any new additions to the family?
- Did we use extra lighting, electronic equipment or other electric equipment?
- Have we added any major appliances?
- What about condition of pumps and other outside equipment?
- Did we celebrate a holiday during this period?
- Air conditioning or heating… the #1 users of electricity.
- Do we have dehumidifiers or hot tubs?
You should check:
- Tightness of doors and windows
- Thermostat settings
- Leaks in duct work
- Filter condition (change monthly)
- Obstructions around exterior unit
Have a professional check:
- Strip heat and relays
- Freon levels
- Thermostat operation
- Compressor cycling
Important note to customers with heat pumps:
If you are experiencing high usage, have a professional check the strip heat. In some cases, the heat strips can engage while the unit is in the cooling mode. This condition will cause higher than normal energy consumption and poor cooling performance. We recommend having your unit serviced prior to the heating season and again before the cooling season to prevent possible problems.
Electric water heat… the #2 user of electricity.
You can check:
- Any kind of leak, whether from a faucet, pipe or pressure relief valves. Most leaks occur under your home hidden from view. Check all crawl spaces. Leaks have been found within slab floors.
- Temperature setting (120 degrees is recommended).
- Insulation of pipes.
- Note: Heating elements can fail to cut off causing continuous operation. An element can be defective which causes the other element to operate more.
Try www.energyright.com to answer more of your questions.