I'm trying to figure out how to keep tabs on my electrical usage at home since I've noticed it increasing from around 380 kWh last November to about 475 kWh now. We're usually pretty conservative with our usage. Our main power hogs are a fridge, a stand-up freezer, and a chest freezer, and we don't use air conditioning or an electric dryer. I have a Kill A Watt device and my power company gives a breakdown of usage per hour, but I'm still puzzled about the increase. Any tips on how I can monitor this effectively?
4 Answers
Do you have a well pump? Those can definitely add to your electrical consumption if you have one running regularly.
One straightforward way to check usage is to monitor your power meter outside. It shows the current consumption, so you can jot down the reading, then turn off appliances one by one to see if the number drops significantly. If it doesn’t get close to zero, try flipping off circuit breakers until you find the circuit that’s drawing power—this can help identify hidden energy hogs.
Make sure you’re also looking at anything that heats or cools, like your water heater, electric stove, or dishwasher. Those can contribute significantly to the bill!
Considering it’s summer now, fridges and freezers might work harder due to the heat. If you can, compare this summer's usage to last year’s, but keep in mind that since you moved in August, your readings could be skewed until the next month.
Yeah, I’ll do that next month since we just moved in. Thanks for the suggestion!