Uncovering The Truth Behind The Most Puzzling Myths Of Electricity Rates

Electricity is a common resource in almost all American homes. Every aspect of life requires the use of electricity – be it making your morning coffee or charging your devices to get your work done.

However, when it comes to understanding the different aspects of how electricity consumption impacts our lives, we can be quite careless.

But despite that, there are several myths around how electricity consumption impacts our lives, how our consumption translates to the money we pay to our electricity provider, and how we can be more energy efficient.

Here are 10 common myths that you have probably encountered around the cost of electricity and the real truth behind them.

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Myth 1: Multiple Electric Space Heaters Can Be Cost Saving

Given that the weather is almost freezing in the winter, heating is necessary for most homes. However, there’s no proof that multiple space heaters cost less than using a gas heating system.

The cost of gas equals the cost of plugging in an average of 3 space heaters in a 3-room apartment.

Moreover, heating systems, whether electric or gas, end up being more energy-efficient than multiple space heaters.

Myth 2: Leaving Lights On Costs Less Than Turning Them On And Off

There are two ways in which this myth can be busted.

When you leave an incandescent or fluorescent light on, it uses a lot more energy than it would if you simply turned it off when it is not being used. The lesser the power used, the lower the electricity bill.

If you leave a light on for longer, you also end up reducing the lifespan of this light, making it last for almost 1.5 years less than it would otherwise. This also increases your expenditure in replacing a bulb.

Myth 3: My New Home Is Automatically Energy Efficient

In all fairness, buying a new home – whether an apartment or a villa – does not ensure that it is energy efficient unless your realtor, developer, or the earlier owners had explicitly mentioned it.

The age of a building has nothing to do with its energy efficiency. The way it is constructed and designed is what really makes all the difference.

So, if you want an energy-efficient home, make sure you ask your agent about it before you finalize your contract with them!

Myth 4: The Time Of Using My Heavy Appliances Does Not Impact The Electricity Bill

Many electricity service providers do offer discounted rates for using appliances during certain times of the day.

This period, also known as non-peak hours, is when a lot of people would not be using their appliances. Typically, these are in the late evening or the afternoon.

You can get in touch with your electricity service provider to understand the best time for you to save on your electricity bill.

Myth 5: Irrespective Of Where I Live, My Electricity Rates Will Be The Same

The state where you live can impact how much you pay for your electricity consumption per month. The United States has different taxation and overheads based on your area of residence.

For instance, the Pennsylvania Electricity Rates would most definitely differ from the rates in Washington.

So, if you are moving from one part of the country to another, you can still expect a different amount on your bill, even when you use the same appliances for the same amount of time.

Myth 6: When I Turn Off My Device, It No Longer Consumes Electricity

Some of your appliances continue to consume electricity even when you are not using them and have turned them off. This is called a phantom load and indicates that your device is drawing power by being plugged in.

From your phone chargers to entertainment units, they draw as much power when switched off as they do when simply plugged in.

Therefore, not only do you need to turn your device off, but you also need to unplug it to ensure it isn’t pulling power and adding to your electricity cost. Needless to say, it is also not energy efficient.

Myth 7: Energy Efficient Products Increase The Initial Cost Of Houses

Some energy-efficient products might be premium and hence, cost more money to set up initially. However, it isn’t always necessary that the initial cost of set up will end up being expensive.

You can get cheaper products that are more efficient and, therefore, save you more money when it comes to your electricity bills.

Look for electronics with high energy star ratings to ensure that you are getting the maximum efficiency at the lowest cost.

Myth 8: Energy-Efficient Heaters Or Coolers Will Automatically Reduce My Bill

When you choose an energy-efficient appliance for your home, you invest in lowering your energy consumption and, therefore, your expenditure on electricity.

However, more than one-third of the energy used by air conditioners go to waste due to improper installation of your electric device, which could add to the already burgeoning Chicago Electricity Rates.

Rather than installing a new heater or cooler on your own, it’s best to call a professional. This way, you’ll be sure that your appliance is installed correctly, and there is no energy loss.

Myth 9: There’s No Real Difference In Efficiency Between Hot and Cold Settings For My Washing Machine

There is a massive difference between using your washing machine in the warm/hot setting instead of the cold setting.

Not only is using the cold setting more energy-efficient, but it’s also cheaper. The warm hot setting costs close to 69 cents, as opposed to the 14 cents it takes to run your machine in the cold setting.

Think about it this way: Using your washing machine on the warm/hot setting is like leaving your refrigerator door open 24/7 for a whole year.

In Conclusion

Being energy efficient is not rocket science. It requires careful attention and proper knowledge of the best practices that could reduce the amount of electricity used as well as your power costs.

After learning the truth behind these misconceptions, your energy and money-saving goals are now achievable!

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