How to Lower Your Electric Bill: What Actually Works
The fastest, lowest-cost ways to lower an electric bill are adjusting your thermostat a few degrees, switching remaining bulbs to LED, unplugging idle electronics, and checking whether your supply rate is competitive — bigger savings usually require an HVAC tune-up, insulation, or a rate switch.
Free and low-cost changes
- Adjust your thermostat a few degrees (lower in winter, higher in summer) — each degree can meaningfully cut heating and cooling costs, your single biggest usage source.
- Unplug or use a smart power strip for electronics and chargers that draw power even when off ("phantom load").
- Switch remaining incandescent or CFL bulbs to LED — LEDs use roughly 75% less energy for the same light output.
- Wash clothes in cold water and air-dry when practical — water heating for laundry is a bigger cost than most people expect.
- Run dishwashers and washing machines with full loads only, and during off-peak hours if your rate plan charges differently by time of day.
Medium-cost upgrades
- A programmable or smart thermostat, which automatically reduces heating/cooling when you’re not home.
- Weatherstripping and caulking around doors and windows — a cheap fix for a surprisingly common source of heat loss.
- An HVAC tune-up or filter replacement schedule — a dirty filter makes the system work harder for the same output.
Bigger investments worth evaluating
- Attic and wall insulation, especially in older homes — often the single biggest lever for a gas heating bill.
- Replacing an aging HVAC system or water heater with a high-efficiency model.
- Solar panels, where the math works for your roof, usage, and local incentives.
Don’t forget the rate itself
All of the above lowers usage, but the rate you’re paying per kWh matters just as much. If you haven’t checked your supply rate against current offers recently — especially if you’re on a third-party supplier contract that may have expired its introductory rate — that’s often the single fastest win available.
Frequently asked questions
What uses the most electricity in a typical home?
Heating and cooling (HVAC) is typically the largest single usage source in most homes, followed by water heating, then major appliances like refrigerators, dryers, and washers.
Does unplugging electronics really save money?
Yes, though modestly for any single device — phantom load from electronics, chargers, and appliances in standby mode can add up to a meaningful share of a bill across an entire household.
Is a smart thermostat worth it?
For most households, yes — the automatic scheduling and away-detection typically pays for the device within a year or two through reduced HVAC runtime.
See this on your own bill
Upload your electric or gas bill and Certo reads it for you — a free bill health score, a plain-English breakdown, and whether your rate is competitive.
Want it tracked automatically every month?
Plus and Pro track bill history, flag rate hikes and unusual usage, and (on Pro) build a custom efficiency checklist and savings tracker — so you're not re-checking this by hand.