With Christmas ending and New Year’s celebrations just around the corner, utility bills are probably the last thing on your mind. Since family members and friends are constantly roaming around the house, charging their phones and turning on light switches, you’d be surprised at just how much money will end up going to waste. Not to mention, you’ll most likely decide to leave your Christmas decorations up until after the ball drops.
There are tons of factors that can contribute to outrageous utility payments before the New Year, but to help you prevent any scary setbacks, here are a few ways to avoid having your electricity bill shock you even more:
Check the Weather and Your Thermostat
Whether you’re living in Raleigh, Clayton, or Durham, temperatures through the New Year are expected to fall between 40 and 60 degrees. Rather than keeping your home heated nonstop, it’s better to check your local weather reports and fluctuate your thermostat to correspond with the dips and rises.
For example, if you see that the average temperature for the day is 60 degrees Fahrenheit, then you can turn the heater off while you’re away from home. On colder days, you can set it within the low 60’s to maintain warmth, but not overdo it. Saving even a few degrees will make a tremendous difference in your power bill in the long run, so stay connected with your area and make adjustments.
Estimate the Cost of Christmas Decorations
You can expect to take a significant hit on electricity costs when it comes to Christmas decorations, but as soon as the presents have been opened, it may be a good idea to estimate the cost of leaving them up until the New Year. On average, a single strand of 25 C9 incandescent bulbs will cost about $15.00 for an entire season (45 days at 12 hours a day), so if your house is covered in these from head to toe, then it may be time to downsize.
On the other hand, using mini incandescent bulbs or LED lights will cut down the total cost by a significant amount. However, if keeping the Christmas spirit alive is a necessity, then the next best thing you can do is to use a Christmas light calculator to help plan out the expected cost. Interestingly enough, studies show that families who switch to cheaper lighting sources in order to save money will eventually add more light sources to their arsenal. Getting caught up in this pattern will only lead to more work and fewer savings, so downsizing and estimating is the safest way to stay in the green.
Follow Best Practices with CMC Electric
Altogether, places like Raleigh and Durham have an average utility cost around $165, which includes heating, electric, and gas for a small household of only two people. With that in mind, you can imagine how much the prices increase with a larger family, more living space, and tons of Christmas decorations.
At CMC Electric, our mission is to help you save money whenever possible while supplying you with the best electrical products and services to make your life easier. This season, rather than footing a major electricity bill, try implementing some of these ideas to see how much you can save.
For more information about these tips or if you have any questions, feel free to contact us today!
