Keeping power bills low while you stay at home

Spending more time at home likely means using more electricity in a time when we're watching household budgets closely.

Posted 9:56 p.m. Apr 29, 2020 — Updated 10:51 p.m. Apr 29, 2020

Brian Shrader

, WRAL anchor/reporter

Spending more time at home likely means using more electricity in a time when we're watching household budgets closely.

WRAL is here to help with some ideas for keeping power bills in check. We asked Lib McGowan, an energy data analyst with N.C. State University's Sustainability Office, for some help to trim utility costs.

Fans use less energy than air conditioners. During mild weather, rely on table or ceiling fans to keep you cool. Once hot weather sets in, using a fan along with air conditoining can allow you to keep the thermostat a little higher while maintaining your comfort.
Wait until you have a full load of laundry or dishes to wash. Also remember that you can use cold water for most laundry and save on water heater usage.
Use electricity during off-peak hours. Check your power bill to see if you are on a Time-of-Use Rate plan. If so, plan your high energy-use activities, like washing laundry or using the oven, for off-peak hours.

"If you're using electricity at on-peak times, it will cost you three times as much as it would if you did it in the evening or on weekends," McGowan said.

For Duke Energy Progress customers, the summer season on-peak hours are weekdays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., with so-called "shoulder-peak" times from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. All other times, including weekends and holidays, are all considered off-peak.

Unplug AC adapters. Any device with an AC adapter will continue to use standby power, even if the device is off. McGowan said the best practice is to plug these devices into a switched power strip and turn it off when you're not using it.

If you like the room a little cooler while you sleep, McGowan said it should save more electricity to keep the thermostat a little higher during the day and set it lower at night. The air conditioner will not have to work as hard when outdoor temperatures are a little cooler. She said using a ceiling fan in the bedroom also will help you feel cooler at night.

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