Five Tips to Help You Keep Your Utility Bills Reasonable This Summer

The hottest part of summer is fast approaching in California. As temperatures rise, energy consumers are turning on their air conditioners and using significantly more electricity than at other times of the year.

However, there are a few tips that will help make your monthly bill less noticeable:

Remember the hours from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m.

That’s when California’s electricity rates are at their highest because during that five-hour block, solar production quickly disappears from the state’s power system as the sun sets. Grid managers must seamlessly replace those disappearing megawatts of solar with other energy sources, like natural gas, to keep the lights on.

So try to use electricity before or after the hours of 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., which utilities like San Diego Gas & Electric and Community Choice energy programs mark on your bill as “peak” hours.

Pre-cool your home

Set your thermostat effectively. Don’t just turn off your air conditioner when you’re away from home, let the temperature in your home rise to, say, 86 degrees, then come home and turn on your air conditioner.

“If you just wait until peak season, it will take an incredibly long time to cool your home,” SDG&E spokesman Anthony Wagner said.

It’s better to set your thermostat to a comfortable level of around 70 degrees, then increase it to 78 degrees (or a little higher if your health allows) between 4 and 9 p.m.

If you don’t already have one, it’s worth investing in a smart Wi-Fi thermostat that automatically adjusts temperature settings for optimal performance.

The California Public Utilities Commission funds the Golden State Rebates program, which offers $40 and $75 rebates on certain smart thermostats. The program also offers rebates on other energy-efficient products. To see if you qualify, go to goldenstaterebates.com.

Close blinds and curtains

A simple, low-tech way to cool your home is to close your blinds and curtains during the hottest times of the day to block out direct sunlight.

Use devices at the right time

Washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and ovens use a lot of electricity, so avoid using them when electricity rates are at their highest.

Beware of “energy vampires”

Some electronic devices in your home increase your utility bill, even when they are not being used.

Appliances and household appliances, such as televisions, desktop computers, and phone chargers, have a standby or “off but ready” mode that remains connected to a power source. While each individual device may draw a small amount of electricity, the collective costs of these “energy vampires” can add up.

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that devices that are turned off but still plugged in account for 10 percent of a home’s energy use. A recent study by the Natural Resources Defense Council found that “idle current” accounts for more than twice the DOE figure.

“I was surprised that even when I turned off my PlayStation or Xbox, it still showed up in my Wi-Fi log,” said Alex Welling, SDG&E communications manager. “It’s still on in the background even though I turned it off.”

To help combat energy vampires, clients can take the following actions:

Completely disconnect devices when not in use.
Changing the power settings for your computer, game console, and TV.
Plug devices that don’t need to be on 24/7 into a power strip and turn them off when not needed.

If it gets really hot this summer, consider taking advantage of the Cool Zone program offered by the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.

Free, air-conditioned spaces at dozens of locations, such as libraries and community centers, provide seniors, people with disabilities and anyone else with a place to escape the extreme heat of summer. For a list of locations and hours of operation, go to sandiegocounty.gov/hhsa/programs/ais/cool_zones.html

San Diego had the third-highest average electricity price in the country at 41.7 cents per kilowatt-hour in June, according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Urban Hawaii came in first at 42.1 cents, and San Francisco came in second at 41.9 cents.

Originally published: August 9, 2024 at 5:10 AM