Where is my electricity going?
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By Ryan Davies
CEC Director of Customer & Energy Services
This is a common question asked by CEC members every day. While each home is unique, with their individual energy consumption, this chart can be used as a guideline. The following chart shows an average all electric home, and the consumption breakdown for the main components of the home.
The dominant portion of your electric bill is heating and cooling. Heating is the primary function homes use in Central Oregon since the area has a much higher heating load or use than a cooling load. With almost half of a typical bill going toward tempering the air in your home, we emphasize improving the efficiency of your heating and air conditioning system.
Water heating is the second largest user, coming in at an average of a quarter of your typical bill. Standard electric water heaters are common in the Northwest, however new technology has provided another option with the potential to cut your water heating costs in half. The heat pump water heater is the choice option over a standard electric water heater. With the CEC rebate and potential manufacturer’s rebates, often found at point of sale, it is a great time to purchase a heat pump water heater.
The refrigerator is the next single highest consuming appliance in your home. Did you know the average CEC member has at least two refrigerators? If you do have more than one refrigerator, consider eliminating one. Removing the old refrigerator from the garage could have a sizeable impact to reducing your monthly electric bill. When it is time to purchase a new refrigerator be sure to look for the Energy Star® logo.
Lighting makes up around eight percent of your bill on average. If you have not already done so convert your standard incandescent light bulbs to LED, which are 85-90 percent more efficient respectively. That replacement could translate to an overall reduction of up to seven percent off your total bill.
Electronics and the remaining appliances round out your bill at around twelve percent on average. As we surround ourselves with more gadgets, this section will continue to increase. When you must grab the next exciting “i” anything, be sure to purchase products that have the Energy Star® logo where applicable. If you are not using your electronics, such as a computer or laptop, be sure to unplug them as they will still draw electricity through the power supply even when they are not on.
Whether you are looking to lower your bill by improving your heating system, water heater, or another component of your home, our energy specialists are happy to help guide you through the process. Give us a call or follow this link to learn more about our energy efficiency programs, and for potential cash rebates to help pay for various improvements.
