We’ve all experienced a shock (pun intended) at one time or another upon receiving an electric bill. While it can be hard to pinpoint the source of the issue, it’s good to know the potential causes of a high electric bill so that you can prevent the issue in the future.
High electric bills can be caused by factors like inefficient appliances, poor insulation, excessive energy use habits, and seasonal changes in energy demand. To address this, consider upgrading to energy-efficient appliances, improving home insulation, practicing energy-saving habits.
In this article, we’ll explore what causes high electric bills, discuss how to prevent them in the future, and cover how to dispute a bill if you believe there’s been an error.
Causes of high electric bills
Below, we’ll explore some of the common culprits for high electric bills. Note that there can be many causes, and one of the first things to look at is whether you’re wondering about a single, abnormally high electric bill or a series of consistently high electric bills.
This can give us some clues:
If your electric bill is abnormally high one month
A sudden spike in your electric bill can stem from factors like changes in weather, increased appliance use, or malfunctioning equipment. Identifying and addressing these issues promptly can prevent recurring high bills.
- Seasonal changes or extreme weather
- Appliance malfunctions (have you had any hot outlets, buzzing light switches, or flickering lights?)
- New appliances or electronics
- Inefficient HVAC systems
If you’ve got an abnormally high electric bill, ask yourself, if any of the above factors apply to you in the last 4-6 weeks.
If your electric bill is consistently high every month
If you’ve got consistently high electric bills, we recommend evaluating your usage patterns and making adjustments once you identify a potential cause.
Additionally, you can compare with neighbors and locals to find out if your bill is actually high, or if it’s par for the course in your area. Especially if you’ve moved recently, don’t rule out the possibility that electricity rates might simply be higher in your new locale.
Some of the causes of consistently high electric bills may be:
- Poor insulation or air leaks can cause heating and cooling appliances to work harder
- High energy use habits (such as leaving lights or appliances running unnecessarily)
- Devices on standby mode that continue to draw power even when not in use
- Incorrect billing (we’ll discuss more about how to dispute an incorrect electric bill later in this article)
How to prevent high electricity bills
An entire article could be written just on the topic of preventing high electric bills, but we’ll cover the topic briefly here. The primary way to prevent high electric bills is to implement power-saving measures to lower electricity usage within your home, and reevaluate after a month or two:
- Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Appliances: Choose appliances with high Energy Star ratings to lower energy consumption. This applies double to high-energy consumption appliances like space heaters, water heaters, air conditioners, and refrigerators.
- Improve Home Insulation: Proper insulation reduces heating and cooling costs by maintaining indoor temperatures more efficiently.
- Close Windows and Doors: Seal your home when heating or cooling appliances are running.
- Use Programmable Thermostats or Smart Thermostats: Adjust temperatures based on occupancy to optimize the amount of electricity being used.
- Unplug Devices When Not in Use: Standby power consumption contributes to overall electricity costs.
- Install Energy-Efficient Lighting: Switching to LED bulbs can decrease lighting costs significantly.
- Conduct Energy Audits: Assessing your home’s energy usage can pinpoint areas for improvement.
- Monitor Your Usage: Utilize smart meters or energy monitoring tools to track consumption and identify trends.
How to dispute a high electric bill
As we mentioned earlier, don’t rule out good old-fashioned human error within the utility company if your bill is extremely high month-to-month.
If you believe your electric bill is inaccurately high, you should first be sure by reviewing your usage and checking your meter readings. Compare your electric utility bills for a few months to identify any discrepancies month-to-month. Then, check your meter readings to ensure the readings are accurate and correspond to your actual power usage.
If you feel that there’s been a mistake, contact your utility provider and discuss your concerns with them. It’s perfectly acceptable to request a meter recheck, if necessary.
Seeking professional advice
If you truly can’t figure out what’s causing your high electric bill, the next step would be to get a professional electrician involved. Typically, we can audit your home or business’ appliances, wiring, meters, boxes, and devices and pinpoint the issue.
Some electricians may even consult with you for free, if you agree to use them for services once they identify the cause of your high electric bill.
FAQs about high electric bills
Factors include excessive energy use, inefficient appliances, poor insulation, and lifestyle habits like leaving lights or electronics on unnecessarily.
No, LED lights are energy-efficient and typically reduce electricity costs compared to traditional incandescent bulbs.
Yes, faulty wiring can lead to energy loss and increased electricity consumption. Be sure to address wiring issues promptly to avoid higher bills and safety hazards.
