Budgeting Tips: High Electric Bill Got you Down?

In the summer, our electric bill almost triples. We have central air, and keeping the condo cool is expensive. Recent grads who have just moved into their apartment know this first-hand; running air conditioners is expensive too. But don't worry- first of all, your electric bill during the summer months (June, July, August) will be the most expensive of the whole year. Once you stop using your air conditioner, your electric bill will drop drastically.

But a way to cut those electric bills in the summer months to make it a little more managable is to use energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs. These might cost a little more upfront but they last ten times longer and use less electricity!! In fact, switch just one your light bulbs to a CFL and you'll save approximatly $90 per year.

You should definetly visit your electric supplier's website- in CT they offer all sort of rebates and incentives to cut back on your electricity use. For example, in CT you can buy up to 12 CFLs per year on their website at a substantial discount. Also, they have a energy efficient rebate program - if you use 10, 15, or 20% less electricity during the summer months of 2007 than you did in 2006, you will save 10, 15, or 20% (applied as a credit) on your electricity bill.

Another tip: cut off two minutes of your shower. Water heating makes up 15% of your electric bill, so shortening your shower by two minutes will save you over $200 per year!