California is fast approaching the hottest part of summer and with temperatures rising, utility customers crank up their air conditioners and consume a lot more electricity than in other times of the year.
But there are a few tips to help make your monthly bill a little less eye-popping:
Keep the hours of 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. in mind
That’s when electricity rates in California are the most expensive because during that five-hour block, solar energy production quickly disappears from the state’s power system when the sun sets. Grid managers must seamlessly replace those disappearing megawatts of solar with other energy sources, such as natural gas, to keep the lights on.
So try to consume electricity before or after the 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. period that utilities such as San Diego Gas & Electric and community choice energy programs label as “on-peak” hours on your bill.
Pre-cool your home
Set your thermostat efficiently. Don’t simply turn off your air conditioner when you’re away, let the temperature in your home rise to, say, 86 degrees, then come home and blast the AC.
“If you just wait until peak time, it would take an exorbitant amount of time to cool down your home,” said SDG&E spokesperson Anthony Wagner.
It’s better to set your thermostat to a comfortable level in the 70s and and then turn it up to 78 degrees (or a little higher if your health can handle it) between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.
If you don’t have one already, it may be worth investing in a Wi-Fi enabled smart thermostat that automatically adjusts temperature settings for optimal performance.
The California Public Utilities Commission funds the Golden State Rebates program that offers discounts of $40 and $75 for purchases of certain smart thermostats. The program also offers rebates on other energy efficiency products. To see if you qualify, go to goldenstaterebates.com.
Close blinds and curtains
A simple, low-tech way to help cool your home is keeping blinds and curtains closed during the hottest parts of the day to block out direct sunlight.
Run your appliances at the right times
Washers, dryers, dishwashers and ovens gobble up a lot of electricity so avoid running them when electricity rates are the highest.
Beware of ‘energy vampires’
Some electronics in your home add to your utility bill even when they’re not being used.
Devices and appliances such as TVs, desktop computers and phone chargers have a standby or “off-but-ready” mode that stays connected to a power source. Though each individual device may suck up a modest amount of electricity, collectively the costs from 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 up to 10 percent of your home’s energy use. A recent study from the Natural Resources Defense Council said “idle load electricity” accounts for more than twice what the DOE reported.
“I was surprised that even when I turn off my PlayStation or Xbox, it’s still showing up on my Wi-Fi register,” said SDG&E communications manager Alex Welling. “It’s still on in the background, even though I powered it down.”
To help drive a stake through energy vampires, customers can take measures that include:
- Completely unplugging devices when they’re not being used.
- Adjusting the power settings on your computer, game console and TV.
- Plugging items that don’t need to stay on 24/7 into a power strip, and switch them off when they’re not needed.
If it gets super hot this summer, another thing to consider is taking advantage of the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency’s Cool Zone program.
The free, air conditioned spots in dozens of locations, such as libraries and community centers, provide a place for older adults, those with disabilities and anybody else to escape extreme heat during the summer. For a list of sites and operating hours, go to sandiegocounty.gov/hhsa/programs/ais/cool_zones.html
According to the most recent figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, San Diego had the third-highest average electricity price in the country at 41.7 cents per kilowatt-hour in June. Urban Hawaii came in first at 42.1 cents and San Francisco finished second at 41.9 cents.
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