During the winter months many people enjoy staying inside because it is warmer than being outdoors. Monthly electricity bills begin to increase when fall comes around. Companies that provide services similar to Columbia Utilities can easily see the increase of electricity used by many families.

Prevent Heat from Escaping
Heat can escape a home in many different ways. Small gaps between doors and windows in a home can be easily sealed with a few supplies found at a local hardware store. Silicone, foam and foam sprays are all effective in sealing areas like this.

Turn Off Electronics
Electronics that are on most of the day in many homes include: TVs, computers and tablets. Most of these electronics can be turned off when they’re not in use and this will decrease the electricity bill each month. Many people like to have these devices on at all times because they don’t feel like waiting for them to startup. The Environmental Protection Agency has researched the usage statistics of electronics not in use but still powered on. They found out that the idle devices can drain more than 100 billion kilowatt hours of energy each year for the entire nation. $10 billion is estimated to be lost each year alone.

Use Gadgets to Estimate Energy Use
There are many devices on the market that can help families limit their electricity use during the winter months. One device measures the kilowatts of a plugged in device and display this information to the user. Timers, like those used for Christmas lights, are another great invention that can turn off a device when it will not be used. On those days where everyone rushes out of the house and no one has time to turn off the electricity, these timers can turn everything off in an instant.

Usage Hours
The bill can also be reduced if electricity is used during non-peak hours. These hours will vary from home to home but they are usually in the morning and evening. Many energy companies will provide peak-hour information to customers for free.

Families like to be cozy when the temperature is below 13 degrees. A plastic sheet can be taped onto windows to insulate them when it is cold outside. The thermostat should be adjusted and lowered as much as possible to avoid high electricity usage.