Molly Ayala
The electric company holds a lot of power, but that doesn't mean they always have to win. From billing errors to energy monopolies, there are many reasons you might want to take on your utility provider. If you're looking to beat the electric company, you could start by checking your meter and bill for any discrepancies. You can also reduce your reliance on their electricity by switching to solar or wind power, which can even make you money if you produce more energy than you need. But be warned, the electric company doesn't like losing control, and they may fight to keep their influence over energy production and pricing.
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What You'll Learn
Understand your electricity bill
Understanding your electricity bill is crucial for managing your energy costs effectively. Here are some key components to help you decipher the various charges, which can often be complex.
Start and End Meter Readings: These numbers reflect the electricity meter's readings at the beginning and end of the billing period. Knowing these dates is essential for understanding your consumption patterns.
Billing Period: This is typically a monthly timeframe for which the current bill is issued.
Daily Average Usage: This figure indicates your average daily electricity usage, helping you track and manage your consumption. Comparing your current usage with previous periods can offer insights into how your consumption varies seasonally or due to lifestyle changes.
Solar Homes: If you have solar installed, your consumption will be lower, resulting in lower or no costs. Your bill will show electricity pulled from the grid and any net metering credits or incentives.
Time-of-Use Rates (TOU): Your bill might show different rates for electricity used during different times of the day, encouraging off-peak usage to save costs.
Delivery Charges: These are the fees you pay for the delivery of electricity and natural gas to your home. They cover the costs of infrastructure like transformers, distribution lines, and customer service. Delivery prices are usually fixed per kWh or therm and vary based on monthly energy usage.
Capacity Cost: This fee, typically for commercial customers, ensures the electric utility has enough capacity to meet customer demand. You can help lower these costs by using major appliances during off-peak times and reducing energy consumption.
Variable vs. Fixed Rates: Understanding whether your bill is calculated on a variable or fixed rate is crucial. A variable rate can change based on market conditions, while a fixed rate remains constant during the contract period. The rate per kWh might vary or stay the same, impacting your overall costs.
Understanding kWh: Your bill will show the total number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) used in the month. To calculate the electricity usage of each appliance, you'll need its wattage, average daily usage, and the price per kWh.
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Check your meter
Checking your meter is an important step in understanding your electricity usage and can help you identify any discrepancies in your bill. Here's a comprehensive guide to checking your meter:
Locate Your Meter
The first step is to find your electric meter. It is usually mounted on a safety light pole if you live in a rural area or on an acreage. If you live in a multi-family or commercial building, the electric meters for each unit are typically located together in a shared area such as near a parking lot, air conditioning units, a basement, or mounted on a power pole. If you're having trouble locating it, contact your power company, and they will provide you with the exact location.
Understand the Type of Meter
There are different types of meters, including standard meters, smart meters, and solar meters. Standard meters are clock-like devices that record electricity consumption in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Some have mechanical displays, while others have LCD screens. Smart meters are newer and provide your utility company with real-time data on your electricity consumption, allowing them to charge you differently. Solar meters, on the other hand, show how much electricity your solar system is generating, how much energy your home is using, and how much energy you're purchasing from the grid.
Read the Meter
Once you've located your meter, it's important to know how to read it. A standard meter with dials should be read from left to right. Each dial represents a specific value: thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones of kWh. Write down the numbers on each dial, and then subtract the previous reading from the current one to calculate your power usage for that period. This will help you understand your energy consumption patterns and verify the accuracy of your bill.
Take Photos and Notes
It is a good practice to take a photo of your meter with each reading. This way, you can compare the meter reading with your bill and easily identify any discrepancies. Additionally, keep track of your meter readings by writing them down. Note the date of each reading so that you can calculate your power usage over different periods.
Verify Billing and Identify Discrepancies
By tracking your meter readings and understanding your power usage, you can verify the accuracy of your electricity bills. If there are any unexpected increases or discrepancies, contact your power company and request clarification. Ask about the method they use to read your meter and calculate your bill. If you suspect any issues with your meter, such as tampering or damage, reach out to your utility company for assistance.
Remember, checking your meter is an essential aspect of understanding your electricity usage and can help you identify any problems or discrepancies in your billing. By being proactive and keeping track of your meter readings, you can make informed decisions about your energy consumption and ensure accurate billing.
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Compare your usage
If you think your electricity bill is too high, the first thing you should do is compare your usage to what's normal. A typical American family with three people uses 850 kWh per month. If your usage is anywhere near that, it's normal. However, normal doesn't mean good, as most people waste a lot of energy. For example, if your kWh usage is similar but the cost is higher, the reason may be that the price of electricity has increased, your utility company has introduced demand charges, or you're being charged for city services other than electricity.
To compare your usage accurately, you should first ensure that your meter is functioning correctly. Turn off every appliance in your home and unplug them from the wall. If you have a water heater that's hard-wired without a plug, make sure it's turned off. If you have a central AC system, just turn it off since you can't unplug it. For illuminated light switches, remove the light bulbs from the sockets to ensure they're off. If your meter still spins with everything off and unplugged, it's likely broken. In this case, pay an electrician $40-50 to confirm and get a signed statement, so you have proof when discussing this with your electric company.
If your meter is working correctly, and your usage is significantly higher than the average, there are ways to reduce your electricity consumption. One way is to use alternative power sources like solar or wind power. While the equipment for solar power may be expensive, you can start with a smaller system within your budget and gradually expand it. Once you've paid off the system, you won't have to pay for electricity again, and you might even be able to sell your excess energy back to the power company.
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Switch to solar power
Solar energy is a great alternative to conventional forms of energy, as it reduces carbon emissions and your carbon footprint. This, in turn, helps to reduce pollution and gives you cleaner air and water.
Solar panels capture sunlight and convert it to DC power. An inverter then converts the DC power to AC power, which is what we use to power our devices. If you want to switch to solar power, there are a few things you should consider. Firstly, you should assess the potential solar energy that can be produced at your address. Several mapping services and tools are available to help you determine your home’s solar energy potential. You should also consider how much energy you use in your home, as this will determine the size of the system you need.
The next step is to decide whether you want to purchase or lease a solar energy system. If you purchase a system, you can benefit from tax credits and increase the market value of your home. However, solar panels can be expensive to install, so you may want to consider taking out a solar loan to lower the upfront costs. On the other hand, if you lease a solar energy system, you will have lower upfront costs and fixed monthly payments, but you won't be entitled to tax benefits.
Finally, you'll need to find a reputable solar panel installation company to provide you with a quote and install your solar panels.
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Fight energy monopolies
America's energy sector is monopolized by a small number of corporate utilities that control how electricity is generated, transmitted, and distributed. This has led to high electricity costs, with Americans collectively spending $360 billion per year on electricity. The problem is exacerbated by lax antitrust enforcement, allowing utility companies to pass losses and costs on to captive retail customers.
To fight energy monopolies, the following strategies can be considered:
- Democratize control of the electricity system: Give individuals and communities more power to produce their own energy. This can be done by encouraging the use of alternative power sources such as solar or wind power.
- Break up the monopoly: Free the grid from the control of monopoly utilities and allow it to act as a common market for entrepreneurs to provide services more efficiently. This will increase competition, reduce prices, and improve reliability.
- Reduce the economic and political power of investor-owned utility companies: Prioritize people and the planet over shareholder returns. This can be achieved through stricter regulation and enforcement of antitrust laws by the FTC and DOJ.
- Support technological advancements: Loosen the monopolistic stranglehold on the power industry to accelerate the adoption of new technologies such as solar, batteries, smart generator sets, artificial intelligence, and software. This will provide consumers with more sustainable, reliable, and affordable options.
- Increase consumer choice: Give Americans a choice in how and where they source their energy and at what price. This will promote competition and drive down prices.
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Frequently asked questions
Compare your usage to what's normal. A typical American family uses 850 kWh per month. If you're anywhere near that with a 3-person household, you're normal. However, normal doesn't mean good, as most people waste lots of energy.
One way to save electricity is to use alternate power sources like solar or wind power. Sunshine is free, but the equipment isn't. You can take it slow and find a system that is within your budget and that you can add on to.
First, make sure the bill you received is accurate. If your home is a single-family dwelling and the meter still spins when everything is off/unplugged, your meter might be broken. Pay an electrician $40-50 to come out and confirm that.
To measure the usage of each appliance, turn OFF and unplug every single thing in the residence. Then start turning appliances back on one by one. If your meter stopped cold when you shut off the breakers, then the next step is to make sure the meter doesn't run when everything is turned off.
The wiring might be too thin to handle the load. In this case, the wiring can heat up, causing a waste of energy and potentially causing a fire. Pay an electrician to come out and confirm this and to advise on the next steps.
