It’s 2017 and the carbon tax has made its debut, which means, no matter whether you are a business, large-scale corporation, or resident, you are starting to worry about what your electricity bill is going to look like. In fact, with the expectation of bill increases, you are probably looking at ways to get the lowest electricity rates just so you can keep your bank account afloat. However, it isn’t just about finding the cheapest rate. That helps, of course, but low rates aren’t the only factor you need to consider. When you are trying to keep your electricity costs down, there are a few tricks of the trade that can go a long way when it comes to saving your energy bill.
Find the rates that work for you
It isn’t just about the lowest electricity rate. You need to find the rate plan that works with your energy consumption pattern if you are going to stay ahead. There are a number of electricity providers, and each of them offer different rate plans that cater to different electricity needs. For instance, if you live by yourself, work during the day, and don’t consume much energy, it may make more sense for you to stay on a flexible rate plan. Alternatively, your consistent energy consumption pattern may make you a perfect fit for a fixed rate plan that can protect you from market fluctuations. If you tend to move a lot, then a flexible rate plan can protect you from having to sign a contract that will outlast your stay and land you with cancellation fees. Those aren’t the only things to look for when you are searching for the lowest electricity rates. Some energy providers cater to larger companies that have larger energy consumption needs—and some cater to the unique needs of farms, both big and small. Finding the right provider who offers the plan that best accommodates your lifestyle is the best way to keep your electricity costs down.
Read the fine print
The next way to keep your electricity costs down involves going a step beyond searching for the lowest electricity rates when choosing your provider. You also want to look at the details of the plan. Are there peak hours involved? Cancellation fees? Extra fees for going over a certain consumption amount? Being aware of the extra fees that can get added onto your bill, and taking steps to ensure that your lifestyle can avoid those fees, is essential when it comes to keeping down those unnecessary electricity costs that can incur.
Be smart about your energy usage
One of the things the carbon tax is attempting to encourage is energy conservation, and especially for those individuals who are eligible for the rebate, being a little more energy conscious is a good way to start making the lowest energy rates mean something. The less you consume, the less the carbon tax applies to you. There are easy ways around the home and workplace to cut down a little on energy consumption:
- Switch to fluorescent or LED lightbulbs and turn lights off in rooms that aren’t being used (businesses can install motion activated lights so the lights stay off until a client or employee walks into the room). Some businesses even turn off alternate lights in large rooms so the rooms stay lit but only consume half the energy.
- Unplug electronics when they aren’t in use (some continue to draw some energy even when they are off, and a lot of laptops get put into standby mode instead of being shut down, which means they continue to consume energy when they are sleeping).
- Turn the heat down by one or two degrees—or more during daytime or evening hours when the building is empty.
- Use an induction burner instead of your stovetop, and avoid running appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers when they aren’t full (hanging laundry to dry can save a lot of electricity—and is much less hard on your clothing).
There are countless ways to make the most of the lowest electricity rates by keeping your energy costs down, even in spite of the carbon tax.
