Why Is My Energy Bill So High?

If you think your energy bill is high, you should see the bills in South Carolina. The Palmetto State has the highest average monthly electric bill in the country at $146 a month. If you want a low electric bill, head to New Mexico, where it has the lowest average at $76. The price you pay depends on a few different factors, including the energy source and average monthly usage. Hotter states will use more energy in summer, while colder states will crank up the thermostat in winter. If your energy bill is high, it may be because you live in an expensive area with extreme weather conditions. That said, there are still a few factors you can look at regardless of location. Here are three things worth considering. 

Too many lights

This is an obvious one, but many people still leave all the lights on in their house even if they're mostly staying in one room. Incandescent lights that give off more heat than light are especially bad for your energy costs. If you're on a Netflix binge in your living room, there's no need for your  bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen to also be lit up. If you can get by on lamps in your living room while you watch episodes of The Crown, then that's even better for your electric bill. 

Abide by a simple rule and turn off the lights as soon as you leave the room. Don't wait to come back in a few minutes to turn off the light. If you do that, you're more likely to get distracted by something else and forget. If you need a reminder, post your most recent high electric bill on your refrigerator. Every time you open the fridge for a snack, you'll get a little reminder about the importance of energy efficiency. 

Constantly charging devices

If your phone's battery gets below 50 percent, you feel anxious. If it gets below 20 percent, you may feel like you're about to have a panic attack. It sounds ridiculous, but low battery anxiety is real for a lot of people. Many of us suffer from nomophobia, which is a fear of being without a charged smartphone.

The anxiety is real, but the solution isn't to always leave your phone plugged in. For one thing, doing that can wear down the battery faster. It can also use up a lot of energy. Plugging in your phone at night when you go to sleep is one thing, but unplug it as soon as your alarm goes off in the morning. And don't leave your USB cords plugged into a wall socket without a device on the other end, because that's also wasteful.

If you're watching your devices and charging them less, something else could be going on. Dig further by going online. Compare energy plans. Depending on where you live, you may be able to switch to a cheaper energy provider. 

Older appliances

You're proud of your sturdy dishwasher. It got installed 15 years ago, and it still works well. But that dishwasher could be a reason behind your high energy bills. Older appliances are not as energy-efficient as newer ones. If your appliance isn't Energy Star certified, that's another sign that you could be paying too much. 

This problem is obviously easier to address if you own your home. If you live in an apartment, it's going to be harder to persuade your landlord that your fridge or dishwasher should get replaced. You can ask if your apartment uses submetering installation, though. It's a more accurate way to gauge how much energy each apartment is consuming. If your bills seem too high, it might be that you're wasting energy. Or it might be that you're paying for more power than you're using.