As the utility bill date nears, you may start getting scared in anticipation. Despite your efforts to lower your consumption, what if you receive an abnormally high electric bill even this month?

There may be some hidden areas where you drain power.

Let us look at some reasons that will leave you shocked:

1.   Using Newly-Purchased Appliances a Lot

It is not a crime to be fond of your newly-bought TV unit or home theater. You gather in the living room and enjoy movie nights with your family.

The same goes for your gaming computer or dishwasher. Or you add additional loads of laundry or switch on the color-changing LEDs just for the aesthetics. You tend to run those electronics more frequently until the “new” feeling” wears off.

2.   Entertaining All Week Long

Having an active social life is good on many levels – you get physical exercise, have friends, and are happy. But your social life can put a dent in your pocket.

If you host parties at home, you cook more, have the lights on for more time, play music, and use several electronics. As a result, it reflects in your abnormally high electric bill. We are not suggesting that you cut down on celebrations. But tweak your energy use, such as installing energy-saving lights and using the microwave instead of the oven.

3.   Charging Too Many Devices

If you are very tech-oriented, it is more likely that you own several gadgets. Just look around as you read this article, and you may find at least five small appliances plugged in. These include smartphones, tablets, iPods, laptops, MP3 players, electric toothbrushes, razors, rechargeable batteries, lights, gaming systems, etc.

In addition, you may have the habit of leaving the devices plugged in all night. They suck energy even when they are turned off, but leave it in the outlet. So, you may find that your electric bill suddenly doubled.

4.   Not Maintaining the Air Conditioner Well

One reason for your high cooling and heating bills is that your AC is past its prime. Typically, an AC needs servicing once or twice a year. Check if you are wasting money on it by ignoring its repair needs.

Make sure if your HVAC unit size accommodates the entire house. Otherwise, you will put an undue burden on it and then get an abnormally high electric bill.

What you can do instead is set the thermostat at the right temperature. Turn it off when the home interior reaches the optimal comfort level. This way, you don’t have to run your air conditioner all the time.

5.   Fluctuating Electricity Rates

Let us assume that all other situations remain the same, but your electric bill suddenly doubled from the previous month. This means the per kWh price of electricity has changed during this period.

It can happen if you have a variable-rate electricity plan. The rates of such plans change every month, per the wholesale market prices. Hence, it is crucial to understand how electricity works in Texas.

Prevent Abnormally High Electric Bill by Choosing the Right Plan

Take proper action and prevent unusually high bills. Compare prices on the Shop Texas Electricity website now.