Learn how weather, especially during summer and winter, can impact your electric bill and what you can do to keep your energy use from spiking during these months.
How Weather Impacts Your Electric Bill
Weather is one of the biggest factors driving your energy consumption and impacts how you heat and cool your home. On average, 55-60% of your electric bill is made up of heating and cooling costs and one month’s bill can differ greatly from another depending on the weather. For example, during the shoulder months of spring (March/April) and fall (September/October) we traditionally see the lowest usage of electric for the average user due to milder weather and temperatures. However, when the average temperature outside is significantly higher or lower than 65°F (typically during summer and winter) your system works longer to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home.
What can you do to reduce the impact of weather on your bill?
- Monitor your Energy Use with SmartHub – The SmartHub member portal (both the app and desktop version) make it easy to view your home’s energy use and make the direct connection between the daily temperature and your daily usage. This also allows you to see your usage and consider other things that may have been going on, like if you were home more often or had company, which could result in using more energy. Keeping a close eye on your home comfort behaviors can help make a difference.
- Install a programmable thermostat – By installing one of these in your home and setting your thermostat to a constant temperature (we recommend 68°F in the winter and 78°F in the summer) you could positively impact your energy use and electric bill and reduce wear and tear to your system.
- Install a smart thermostat and join our smart thermostat savigs program – Nest smart thermostat owners can lower their monthly bill and receive a $50 rebate and monthly bill credits of $2.50 from June-September when they join our smart thermostat savings program. By signing up, you get paid for allowing Piedmont Electric to adjust your thermostat through your in-home Wi-Fi a couple degrees on very hot afternoons in the summer. You always have the final say in your home’s temperature and can change your thermostat back at any time.
- Enroll in a Time-of-Day rate – By joining this program, you pay a lower rate (half the price) for using energy off peak.
- Enroll in Beat the Peak – Join this text and email notification system and voluntary reduce your energy use during peak times during the summer. In doing so, you lower the cost of electricity for all.
- Use the Energy Advisor online – If your electric bill has been higher than usual and you want to find ways to reduce your bill to more manageable levels, please take advantage of our complimentary bill analysis and energy audit. We will identify areas where you can save.
- HVAC maintenance – You can help prepare your HVAC for the warmer weather before it hits so that your system works more efficiently and help you save money on cooling costs.