Summer is here…
As the temperatures skyrocket, power bills seem to do the same, but you can stop them! Cutting your electric bills doesn’t have to mean buying a bunch of gadgets — or sitting alone in the dark.
As a member of Kenergy, you are in a unique position to take advantage of energy efficiency programs and energy-saving tips offered by the co-op. Because we are a not-for-profit organization, our goal is to provide safe, reliable power at the most affordable price for our members. This means helping you save money on your monthly electric bill.
Basic energy efficiency practices, like caulking around windows and doors, turning off lights when you leave the room and using a programmable thermostat, are great ways to start saving, but there’s one place members may waste power and don’t even realize it: Vampire power. It’s the energy some appliances and electronics drain from your home when they are turned off. In other words, being off doesn’t mean unplugged.
So, what are the signs of a vampire? Anything with a clock or light that’s on when the item is turned off. Also, any kind of plugged-in charger can be a vampire appliance — whether or not it’s charging anything. Staking these vampires doesn’t mean going around constantly plugging and unplugging your electrical items. Instead, hook things up to surge protectors. Or use outlets that connect to wall switches for vampire items. When the wall switch is off, there’s no power to drain.
Members can also cut their energy use by monitoring it. You can monitor your energy use with the Kenergy SmartHub app, but also remember that hourly readings can sometimes be estimates in the SmartHub billing software until the actual reading is transmitted and verified by our meter data management system. By using this free service, you can keep tabs on when your energy use is high, what appliances use the most electricity and other details about your energy use. This information is available at your fingertips and will help you keep energy savings top of mind.
Typically, most households use larger amounts of electricity in the mornings and in the evenings – when most people are either getting ready for their day or returning home. But also keep in mind that appliances such as ice makers and air conditioners may be running throughout the day while you are away.
Kenergy is proud to offer energy efficiency programs for you, our members. Those programs are highlighted HERE. Please take a look at them and take advantage. As you can see, there are many ways to save, and we want to be your trusted energy resource. To find out more about energy efficiency programs and tips, call any office at 1.800.844.4832.
