How to Lower Your Electric Bill With Everyday Habits

The first time I really read my electric bill, I found out I had been paying for things I never thought about.

I had always looked at the total, winced, and paid it. When I finally read the lines, I saw how much power my home was using, how the rate worked, and how my usage changed from season to season. That simple look gave me ideas I had never had before. It made the bill feel like something I could influence, and not just something that happens to me.

This guide walks through the everyday habits that tend to make the biggest difference. None of them need special tools or a big budget. You do not have to try everything. Pick the two or three that fit your home, and add more as they become routine. Results will vary, because every home and every utility is different, and small changes tend to add up.

See Your Utility Costs Clearly, Then Shrink Them

Download the free Money Reset Workbook and get a simple page for your monthly utility bills, so you can watch your electric bill come down.

Get the Free Workbook

Start by reading your bill, so you know what you are working with

Take out your last bill, or log in to your utility account. Look for the amount of electricity you used, usually measured in kilowatt-hours, and the price you pay for each one. Many bills also show a chart of your use over the last year.

Look at the pattern. Is your use higher in summer, in winter, or both? That tells you where to focus. If your bill rises sharply in hot months, cooling is likely a big piece. If it rises in cold months, heating may be.

Also check for fees, rate changes, or special programs. Some utilities offer budget billing, which spreads costs evenly across the year, and some offer free home energy checks. A quick call or a look at their website can turn up useful help.

Read your last bill carefully, and write down your usage, your rate, and the season when it is highest.

Adjust your thermostat a little, and let it work for you

Heating and cooling are often the largest part of a home’s electric use, so small changes here tend to matter most. In winter, try setting the thermostat a little lower when you are home, and lower still when you sleep or are away. In summer, try setting it a little higher, and use fans to help you feel cooler.

A programmable or smart thermostat can handle these changes for you, if you have one. If you do not, setting a reminder to change it as you leave and go to bed works almost as well.

Make changes gradually, so your household can adjust. If anyone in your home is elderly, very young, or has a medical condition, keep the temperature in a safe and comfortable range, and do not cut back at the cost of health.

Change your thermostat by one or two degrees this week, and see how it feels.

Make Your Home Feel Cozy for Less

Premier Print Works creates quality prints, mugs, and shirts for homes that run efficiently. Find something that makes your space feel like yours.

Visit Premier Print Works

Cut down on standby power, the energy used by devices that are off but plugged in

Many electronics keep using a little power even when they look like they are off. TVs, game consoles, chargers, cable boxes, and computers are common examples. A power strip lets you switch off a whole group at once. Plug your TV area into one strip, and your computer area into another. If you like practical home ideas, these DIY solutions that help families save money at home have more of them.

Unplug chargers when they are not in use, and turn off devices you are not using. These are small habits that take seconds. Over a month, they can make a noticeable difference.

Make it easy. A power strip within reach means you are more likely to use it.

Plug your TV and computer setups into power strips, and switch them off at night.

“Small habits at home add up, and a bill you understand is a bill you can change.”

Switch to LED bulbs, and turn off lights you are not using

Lighting is a smaller part of most bills, but it is one of the easiest to change. LED bulbs use much less electricity than old-style bulbs and last far longer. Replace the bulbs you use most often first, like the ones in the kitchen, the living room, and the porch.

Pair that with a simple habit. Turn off the light when you leave a room, and use natural light during the day when you can. It may feel small, and it adds up.

If buying all the bulbs at once is too much, replace them as the old ones burn out.

Replace your three most-used bulbs with LED bulbs, or add it to your next shopping list.

Track Your Monthly Bills in One Place

The free Money Reset Workbook helps you record your utility costs each month, so every habit you try shows up in your numbers.

Get the Free Workbook

Do laundry in smarter ways, because dryers and hot water use a lot of energy

The dryer is one of the bigger energy users in many homes. Run it only with full loads, clean the lint filter every time, and consider hanging some items to dry, especially on nice days or in a rack indoors. If your washer allows it, use cold water for most loads, since heating water takes a lot of energy.

Wash full loads when you can, but do not overload the machine. If your dryer has a moisture sensor setting, use it, so it stops when the clothes are dry.

These small habits can lower your bill and help your clothes last longer.

Clean your dryer lint filter before every load, and switch most washes to cold water.

Look at your water heater and your kitchen appliances

Heating water is a major use of energy in many homes. Many water heaters are set higher than they need to be. A setting of about 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius) is commonly recommended for most households, but check your manual and your own needs, and be careful with water temperature around children and older adults. For more ideas on trimming costs around the house, take a look at these money saving ideas for lowering everyday expenses.

In the kitchen, run the dishwasher only when it is full, and let dishes air dry if you can. Keep your refrigerator at about 37 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer at zero. Make sure the door seals close tightly, and keep the coils clean so the fridge does not work harder than it has to.

Use lids on pots, and match the pot to the burner size. A microwave or toaster oven can use less energy than a full oven for small jobs.

Check your water heater setting and your fridge temperature this week, and adjust if needed.

Keep the heat and cool air inside, and block the leaks

Gaps around doors and windows let heated or cooled air escape. A tube of caulk, weatherstripping, or a simple draft stopper at the bottom of a door can help. Close curtains on sunny windows in summer, and open them on sunny windows in winter.

Change or clean your furnace and air conditioner filters regularly, usually every month or two, depending on the type. A clogged filter makes your system work harder.

These steps cost very little, and they help your home feel more comfortable as well.

Walk around your home on a windy day and feel for drafts, and fix the worst one this week.

Ask about time-based rates and help programs, and use them if they fit

Some utilities charge different prices at different times of day. If yours does, running the dishwasher or laundry during cheaper hours can lower your bill. Others offer rebates for efficient appliances or free energy checks. It costs nothing to call and ask. If your bill keeps feeling out of reach, my list of money saving habits for when you feel behind may help you plan.

If you ever have trouble paying your bill, contact your utility before you fall behind. Many offer payment plans or assistance programs, and a local help line, like dialing 2-1-1 in the United States, can point you to other resources.

Asking early is almost always better than waiting.

Call or visit your utility’s website, and ask about rates, rebates, and help programs.

Track your bill each month, and keep what works

The best way to know if your habits are working is to compare. Each month, write down your usage and your total, and compare it to the same month last year if you can. Weather affects use, so look at the trend and not at one month. Keeping a simple record in a notebook or in your budget works well, and these budgeting habits for feeling more prepared can help you set up a routine.

Keep the habits that make a difference, and drop the ones that feel like too much work. A few steady habits beat a long list you cannot keep up.

Celebrate small wins. A smaller bill is a real reward.

Start a simple log of your electric usage and total each month.

Ready to Lower Your Electric Bill?

The free Money Reset Workbook helps you see your numbers clearly, so your home savings are easy to spot.

Download Free Now

Fill Your Home With Things You Love

Premier Print Works makes quality prints, mugs, and shirts for people who save at home. Browse the collection and find what speaks to you today.

Visit Premier Print Works