Ever received your electricity bill and noticed an enormous hike despite having the same consumption behaviour every month?

While it is easy to blame your utility provider for hiking up the rates or providing inaccurate calculations, there are other potential reasons related to your consumption habit that have contributed to the rise in your bill, without you even noticing them.

Here are a few potential reasons for the spike in your bill.

1. Faulty appliances

Frequently used and big domestic appliances such as your washing machine or air conditioners are huge energy consumers. When they are faulty, they can use consume more energy than normal, and hike up your bills!

Faulty appliances are also dangerous as they are a safety threat for households if left neglected for long. It is important to conduct regular maintenance or service to ensure they are working at their optimal condition.

2. Old appliances

Using appliances past their prime time can significantly increase your bill.

You might think that as long as they are repaired or serviced when needed and are well functioning, they can last long. On the contrary, old appliances suck up more energy than new energy-efficient ones.

Don’t forget that technology is constantly advancing and switching out your old appliances to energy-efficient ones can help you save more in the long run.

3. Leaving your appliances plugged in

One habit you might have is leaving unused electronics plugged in the power outlet.

In case you didn’t know, leaving your electronics or appliances plugged in when unused makes your electronics convert to standby mode, meaning that they will still draw electricity to allow you to turn them back on faster.

Simply make a habit of switching off the main power outlet and unplugging all unused sockets. Once you start practising this habit, you can easily see a reduction in your electricity bill and keep your electronics or appliances and power outlets safe from short circuit damage at the same time.

4. Increased use of seasonal appliances

There is a chance that you have started switching your air conditioner on more often to cool down during the current heatwave.

According to experts, electronic appliances with cooling systems such as air conditioners, water purifiers and refrigerators are the common cause of high electricity bills.

They tend to use up more energy in order to maintain their function and regulate their temperature, especially during the hot season.

To reduce the consumption of energy, you are encouraged to open the refrigerator door less often, reduce your usage of the air conditioner by setting the temperature at 24°C to 26°C and switch it off once your room is cool.

To maintain the cool temperature long after you have switched off your air conditioner, be sure to turn on the fan.

It’s time to rethink your electricity consumption, make changes and form new habits to become a conscious consumer, as it will definitely save you from burning a hole in your pocket.

In the meantime, don’t forget to set aside a budget to conduct regular maintenance or servicing for your electronic appliances to prolong their lifespan.

This article first appeared in kaodim.com

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