My Electricity Usage Has Doubled (2023)

An Increase In Electricity Usage And An Unusually High Electric Bill - What Are The Common Culprits?

Do you ever look at your electricity bill and feel like someone must have broken in and left all your lights on? I mean, how else could your electric bill have gotten so high, so fast? It feels like being robbed! Have you found yourself saying, “My electricity usage has doubled!”

No more highway robbery via electric bill.

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Then, you can come back and read more about why your electricity usage might be going up to save even more money.

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My Electricity Usage Has Doubled (1)

How Is Electricity Usage Measured?

Think about all of the ways that you consume electricity each day in your home.

  • Turning on the lights
  • Taking a hot shower
  • Brewing a pot of coffee
  • Adjusting the thermostat
  • Reheating food in the microwave

When you go about your daily routine at home, you may not think about it, butyou are consuming energy all the time.

The amount of energy that you use is measured in units known as kilowatts per hour (kWh) andyourRetail Electric Provider (REP)charges you for every kWh that you use to power your home.

How Kilowatts Per Hour Are Calculated

To understand how kilowatts per hour are calculated, you have to understand a little bit of basic math.

One kilowatt = 1000 watts

So when you are calculating kilowatts per hour, it is a measure of how many watts are used in one hour.

Most of us are familiar with the term “watts” from a common household item – the light bulb.

As you know, various types of light bulbs are named by their wattage, which describes how many watts it takes to light up the bulb.

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Let’s figure out a light bulb’s kilowatts per hour:

Step 1 – Divide The Number Of Watts By 1000

A 60-watt bulb / 1000 = 0.06 kilowatts

Step 2 – Estimate The Number Of Hours The Bulb Is Used In A Month

5 hours a day x 30 days = 150 hours per month

Step 3 – Multiply The Hours By The Kilowatt Consumption

150 hours per month x 0.06 kilowatts = 9 kilowatt-hours per month

(Video) Why has my electric bill doubled?

This is for one light bulb!

What Consumes The Most Electricity In The Average Home?

TheUS Energy Information Administration (EIA)released data in 2018 that statestheaverage Texan home consumesabout 1,176 kWh per month.

Being aware of what consumes the most electricity in the average home can help you assess your situation and determine how it is affecting your electric bill.

Take a look at thethree largest users of electricity usagein most American homes, according to the EIA:

Air Conditioning & Heating

Air conditioning (A/C) and heating account for about 32% to 50% of your household’s energy consumption.

Think about the summer months in Texas…

You would not be able to survive long without cranking on the air conditioner.

Although Texas is a southern state,heating your home in the winter is necessary, too.

Water Heating

Your water heater consumes about 14% of your household energy.

Did you know that a water heater runs about3 hours a dayin most American homes?

Since you access hot water on autopilot, you probably don’t realize that it consumes so much energy in just one day.

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Lighting

The energy required to light up your home is about10% of your home’s total consumption.

If you useLED lights, you can significantly reduce the number of kilowatt-hours you use,which in turn can cut your energy costs.

You have to use lights, but simplyturning them offwhen not in use can save you money.

Six Questions To Ask If Your Electricity Usage Has Doubled

If you have found yourself wondering, “Why has my electricity bill doubled?” you must take the time to find where the problem lies.

You can begin accessing your energy usage by asking these questions:

#1 – Have You Recently Purchased A New Appliance?

Naturally, when you add more appliances to your home, you are more likely to consume more energy.

For example, purchasing a second refrigerator for your growing family is going to use more electricity in your home.

Sometimes the increase in energy consumption can come from using an appliance that you haven’t used before until recently…

Like a dishwasher that was barely used— until a new baby entered the home and no one could find the time to wash and dry dishes by hand anymore.

#2 – Are Your Old Appliances Losing Efficiency?

The older an appliance, the more likely it is to consume more energy to use it.

Think about it…

A family that still uses a television that was purchased in 1999 is going to demand more energy than a newer flat-screen TV.

Most appliances today use marketing tactics and information so that you canbetter understandENERGY STARappliances.

You can use this information to help you make smarter decisions when buying and using energy-efficient appliances.

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#3 – Have You Added New Devices Or Technology To Your Home?

You are likely to consume more energy when you purchase a shiny new device, tech toy, or gadget.

(Video) We Cut Our Electric Bill in Half in About 6 Weeks!

This is especially true if you are enjoying its newness and the thrill of owning a new device.

A new surround sound system in your home can bring more exciting nights of watching Netflix as a family,thus requiring more energy consumption.

#4 – Is Your Insulation Or Ducting Compromised?

Wear and tear in older homes can lead to holes in heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) ducts, and insulation degradation.

This, in turn, could allow hot and/or cold air into spaces in your home such as attics or crawl spaces,making HVAC systems work harder.

The harder it works, the more energy it consumes.

#5 – Has Your Lifestyle Changed?

Are you or someone else in your household spending more time at home recently? Maybe it’s due to:

  • Working from home
  • Loss of a job
  • Traveling less
  • Kids home from college
  • New hobbies that require electricity (power tools, exercise equipment, etc.)

These lifestyle changes can easily increase the use of electricity in your home.

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#6 – Has The Number Of Occupants In Your Home Changed?

If you have recently had…

  • A partner or roommate move into your home
  • A child move back home after college graduation
  • Nieces or nephews spending the summer with your family

More people living in your home means there is a need for more hot water, cool air, and appliance and device usage.

My Electricity Usage Has Doubled (2)

Five Reasons For Unusually High Electricity Usage

Have you recently asked yourself“What can cause my electric bill to be so high?”

You can quite often link an abnormally high electricity bill to unusually high electricity usage.

Keep readingto understand five reasons why your electricity usage might be unusually high.

#1 – Lack Of Energy-Efficient Lighting

If you are still using traditional lighting options, consider using LED light bulbs.

The cost for this type of lighting is slightly more than traditional options but it is worth the investment because you:

  • Can use up to 90% less energy by replacing your traditional light bulbs
  • Won’t need to replace your LED light bulbs as often as traditional bulbs
  • Can see energy savings almost immediately

Solution

Simply take the time to replace your traditional light bulbs.

You can take on this project all at once or replace them room by room each month.

Once you make the switch to LED lighting, your budget will thank you.

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#2 – Vampire Appliances

Did you know that just because something is turned off, doesn’t mean it’s not consuming electricity?

Your computer printer, desk lamp, coffee maker, and any other device that is not unplugged is continuing to suck (hence the term “vampire appliances”) and consume energy.

That is a waste of energy and your hard-earned money.

Solution

There are two ways you can prevent this from happening:

(Video) Why is my electric bill doubled?

  1. Unplug any unused appliances until you need to use them
  2. Connect appliances to a powerstrip and turn it off and on as needed.

You will be surprised at how much less energy you consume each month by faithfully paying attention to “vampire appliances.”

#3 – Poor Insulation

A poorly insulated home can cause you to waste a lot of energy and money.

Running the heat or A/C while leaks are coming from doors, windows, and other drafty spaces in your home is counterproductive.

It’s time to pay attention to your home’s insulation or you will be paying unnecessarily higher electricity bills.

Solution

Take the time to assess and repair your home’s poor insulation.

  • Invest in new windows to reduce or eliminate drafts
  • Hire someone to install more insulation in the attic and/or basement of your home
  • Install door and windowdraft stoppers

These investments can save you money on future electricity bills.

#4 – Thermostat Settings

Is your AC or central heat running all day – or even worse – when you’re not home?

Consider setting your thermostat to avoid running your A/C and heat continuously.

You will be more likely to save on energy consumption and your monthly bill.

Solution

During the colder months:

  • Set your thermostat around 68 degrees during the day
  • Turn your thermostat down 10 degrees at night when people are sleeping
  • Keep plenty of throw blankets available for you and your family
  • Wear more clothing inside the home

During the warmer months:

  • Set your thermostat around 78 degrees when people are home
  • Turn the thermostat up to 85 degrees when everyone is away from home

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#5 – Inefficient Appliance Usage

Some of your largest appliances – dishwashers, clothes washers, and dryers – use a significant amount of energy.

Using these appliances can easily drive your electricity costs up.

On average, it takes about 40 gallons of water to wash a full load but…many of the “loads” you wash may not utilize the washer to its fullest capacity.

Solution

Try these tips to get more out of some of those larger, energy-consuming appliances:

  • Keep your refrigerator or freezer full so that it uses less energy to keep the items inside cold
  • Run your dishwasher, clothes washer, and dryer less frequently to use less energy
  • Wash full loads in the dishwasher and clothes washer, and dry full loads of clothes in the dryer

Can’t Determine The Reason For Your Very High Electricity Consumption: Schedule An Energy Audit

You can request a professional energy audit from an independent company so that you can better understand your electricity costs.

Energy audits are assessments that give you a breakdown of your home’s energy consumption.

The auditor assesses your household’s behavior:

  • How many people currently reside in the home?
  • What rooms are used the most and least frequently?
  • How do you normally set your thermostat in the summer and winter months?

They will also use their tools and equipment to detect any sources of unnecessary energy consumption, such asefficiency meters, specialized cameras, blower doors, and surface thermometers.

After the audit, the auditor should be able to advise you on ways to reduce the energy you consume.

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How Long Does An Energy Audit Take?

An energy audit can take anywhere from 30 minutes to four hours to complete, depending on the size of the home and the complexity of its structure.

What Does An Energy Audit Cost?

According toHome Advisor,most energy audits typically cost you between $207 and $656.

(Video) Renewable energy usage has doubled in the last decade. Hawaii is leading the charge

However, if the cost is an issue for you, Power Wizard also offers cutting-edge technology to perform electricity bill audits with the Power Wizard Shopping Tool.

Simply enter your zip code into the Shopping Tool and in less than 5 minutes, you can get the best-recommended electricity plan for you.

Three Reasons For An Abnormally High Electric Bill

Sometimes your electric bill cansuddenly increasewithout warning.

And get this –it may have nothing to do with your energy usage.

Let’s take a look at the most common causes of high electric bills.

#1 – Your Variable-Rate Plan Experienced A High Rate Month

As the name implies,variable-rate plansfluctuate with the market.

If your electricity bill suddenly increases, and you have a variable-rate plan,your rate (and your electricity bill) could increase or decreasemonth-to-month.

What Can You Do?

The good news is that you have the power to change your variable-rate plan to a fixed-rate plan.

A fixed-rate plan provides a consistent rate that does not change when the electricity market does.

You can usePower Wizard’s Shopping Toolto find the best fixed-rate plan for your home and switch today.

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My Electricity Usage Has Doubled (3)

#2 – Auto-Rolled To Month-to-Month Plan At The End Of Your Contract

A lot of Texaselectricity companiesautomatically switch customers to a month-to-month plan at ahigher rateif they don’t renew their contract or sign upfor a new planby the end of their current contract.

What Can You Do?

Take note of the end of your current electricity contract and put a reminder on your phone or a calendar.

Before the end of your contract, you should carefully review renewal rates for your electricity but also shop around for a better plan that meets your energy needs.

You can also use Power Wizard to continuously monitor the electricity market for new plans that suit your household needs and save you money.

#3 – An Increase In Fees Charged By The TDU Providing Electricity To Your Area

If you take a close look at your electricity bill, you might notice a line-item charge known asTDU delivery charges(also called demand charges) each month.

There could be a few reasons why there is an increase in your TDU charges:

  • A faulty or broken electricity meter
  • A meter may need to be upgraded from an analog meter to a smart meter
  • Ratchet charges, which are charges based on your highest monthly demand for the year
  • The electricity provider may have marked up your TDU fees to gain more profit

What Can You Do?

There are a couple of waysthat you can go about trying to resolve this issue:

  • Have the electric utility company in your area come and check to make sure your meter is not faulty and that you have a smart meter installed
  • Call your retail electric provider to find out if you are being charged extra fees
  • Use Power Wizard’s 100% unbiased Shopping Tool to do your due diligence in choosing the best electricity rate for you —fees included

Let us find you the best plan in seconds and start saving.

My Electric Bill Doubled – How Can I Find A New Plan?

Now that you have a better understanding ofwhy your electricity bill can increase significantly (or even double),you have a choice to make:

  • Will you continue paying unnecessarily highelectricity bills?
  • Or will you find a better electricity plan that can help you save money each month?

If you are ready to find a new plan and cut down your energy cost, Power Wizard can help.

The Power Wizard Solution

Our Shopping Tool makes it simple for you to make a confident switch to a less costly electricity plan.

You can find a new plan in 3 steps (taking youless than 5 minutes):

(Video) Why I Regret Having a Smart Meter Fitted & Be Careful of Energy Comparison Sites

  1. Enter your zip code
  2. Answer a few questions about your home and lifestyle
  3. Receive an unbiased recommendation for the best electricity plan for you

Get started with Power Wizard’s Shopping Tool and know that the rate you are paying is reasonable while meeting your unique electricity needs.

Let us find you the best plan in seconds and start saving.

FAQs

My Electricity Usage Has Doubled? ›

If your electricity bill has doubled in the matter of a month or so, you should check out your usage. You may also want to consider any changes you have made. For example, did you install new light bulbs? If so, you may have replaced energy-efficient light bulbs with non-energy-efficient light bulbs.

Why has my power usage suddenly increased? ›

Faulty electrical wiring could cause a sudden increase in electricity consumption, or your electrical meter may be broken. If you continue to see a higher than expected electricity bill, even after taking all of the necessary steps to troubleshoot the exact cause, it may be time to call a certified electrician.

Why am I using twice as much electricity? ›

Reason #1: Vampire appliances. Reason #2: Lights and ceiling fans that are not used strategically in the home. Reason #3: Light bulbs that are not energy efficient. Reason #4: Your house is not properly insulated.

What is the average electric bill in Georgia? ›

Monthly electric bills are a product of how much electricity you use per month and your electric rate. In Georgia, the average monthly electric bill for residential customers is $159/month, which is calculated by multiplying the average monthly consumption by the average electric rate: 1,175 kWh * 14 ¢/kWh.

What uses the most electricity in your house? ›

Top five energy consuming home appliances
  • Wet appliances. Washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers account for 14% of a typical energy bill, taking the top spot in our list. ...
  • Cold appliances. ...
  • Consumer electronics. ...
  • Lighting. ...
  • Cooking.
Jan 14, 2022

What could be draining my electricity? ›

Today's electrical products are draining energy more than ever. And the culprit is standby power. Unless they're unplugged, many of your appliances are continuously using electricity. Top examples include TVs, DVR boxes, satellite TV boxes, computers, and video game consoles.

Can a power supply give too much power? ›

There is no truth to the myth that a large wattage power supply will force too much power into your devices causing overheating and burnout. The power supply will only provide the needed wattage. For example, a device that needs 50 watts will only get 50 watts from a 250 watt supply, not the entire 250 watts.

How can you tell if your electric meter is faulty? ›

If you have a credit meter

If the meter stops, turn on 1 appliance at a time and check the meter. If the meter starts to move very quickly, the appliance could be faulty. If the meter is still moving, it's probably faulty.

What runs your electric bill up the most? ›

What Uses the Most Electricity in My Home?
  • Air conditioning and heating: 46 percent.
  • Water heating: 14 percent.
  • Appliances: 13 percent.
  • Lighting: 9 percent.
  • TV and Media Equipment: 4 percent.

Can a smart meter be wrong? ›

Currently, smart meters use mobile networks to record your usage, which can be unreliable in some locations, especially if you reside in a remote area. This may result in readings not being sent, which may confuse your bills and those of your energy provider. Smart meters can be puzzling and unsettling.

Did Georgia Power rates go up? ›

As approved, effective January 1, 2023, the typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month would see a bill increase of approximately $3.60 per month. The first-year rate impact on the average retail customer is 2.6% followed by increases of approximately 4.5% in each of the next two years.

Is electricity cheaper at night Georgia Power? ›

Every day of the year from 11 p.m. – 7 a.m. It's cheapest for Georgia Power to produce electricity during these hours so the savings are passed on to you.

How much is utilities a month in GA? ›

Average Utility Costs in Georgia: $411 per month

Keeping the home fires burning is an important part of anyone's monthly budget.

What draws a lot of electricity in a house? ›

Heating and cooling are by far the greatest energy users in the home, making up around 40% of your electric bill. Other big users are washers, dryers, ovens, and stoves. Electronic devices like laptops and TVs are usually pretty cheap to run, but of course, it can all add up.

Do phone chargers use power when not in use? ›

That's wasted electricity—technically, it's called "no load mode," but in reality it's just another vampire. According to the Berkeley Lab's testing, cell phone chargers in no load mode consume around 0.26 watts, and laptop chargers, 4.42 watts.

What appliances use electricity even when turned off? ›

Home office equipment such as power strips, desktop computers, monitors, printers, lamps, and anything with a digital display can use electricity even when they're turned off.

How do I stop wasting electricity? ›

What can I do? Turn off the power switch on the socket/wall or unplug appliances from the socket when they are not in use. Turning devices to “energy-saving” or “eco” mode is another way to reduce energy consumption.

Do I have dirty electricity? ›

An AM radio is a basic and effective, simple EMI detector. Turn the AM dial all the way to the left (500KHz) and right (2MHz). The radio will show a difference in static depending on changes in the electromagnetic environment. Such is a good method for detecting dirty power at home.

What drains the most energy in your home? ›

Here's what uses the most energy in your home:

Cooling and heating: 47% of energy use. Water heater: 14% of energy use. Washer and dryer: 13% of energy use. Lighting: 12% of energy use.

How do I know if my power supply is overloaded? ›

Depending on which output or outputs you are drawing too much current from, results will vary. Typically, you will have issues booting or frequent crashes when you ask the CPU to work hard. A severe overload would likely kill the supply.

What causes a power supply to overload? ›

Your household electrical circuit has a certain capacity or limit for the amount of electrical current that can safely flow through it. Too much current flowing through these wires causes an overloaded circuit.

How do you fix a power supply overload? ›

The immediate solution to an overload is simple: Shift some plug-in devices from the overloaded circuit to another general-purpose circuit. Then flip the circuit breaker back on or replace the fuse and turn stuff back on.

Are electric meter readings accurate? ›

3.2 Electricity meters are considered “accurate” if the permitted margins of error do not exceed +2.5% to -3.5% throughout the entire load range at which the meter is designed to operate.

How do you test an energy meter? ›

In this test, power lead and cables are checked to measure the EMI escape, and it covers small meter of the frequency range from 150 kHz to 30 MHz. This test measures the EMI escape through free space, and it covers large meters of the frequency range from 31 MHz to 1000MHz.

Is electricity consumption increasing? ›

For 2022-2024, the report anticipates electricity demand growing 2.7% a year on average, although the Covid-19 pandemic and high energy prices bring some uncertainty to this outlook.

Are electric rates going up in Ohio? ›

The average residential customer who uses 1,000 kilowatt-hours of energy each month can expect their bill to increase about 28% from around $155 to $198, the power company said on its website. The rates will be in effect until May 2024.

What causes power grid to overload? ›

Heating and Cooling. The biggest load on the electrical grid, and the cause of peak demand, is cooling, and as we switch heating from fossil fuel to heat pumps (air conditioners in reverse) it will also become a big load. But heating and cooling can also shift their need, if we use gear designed for that.

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