Things You'll Need:
- Current energy bill
- Online electricity calculator
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Step 1
Check out local costs per kilowatt-hour. For example, a company may charge $0.06 per kilowatt hour for the first 500 hours, and $0.10 per hour after. If you review your bill, this information should be included on the front page. Or, you can contact your utility company directly for pricing information.
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Step 2
Make a list of items that are notorious for using high amounts of electricity. For example, an electric oven, water heater, dish washer, air-conditioning unit and furnace typically consume the most energy.
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Step 3
Once you've made a list of the big energy users in your home, use a free online electricity calculator to estimate your costs (see Resources). This will give you the number of kilowatt-hours used, cost per month and cost per year.
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Step 4
Ask your utility company whether rates are higher during peak hours. Some utility companies charge higher rates after 6 p.m.
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Step 5
Compare the accuracy of your estimate to your electricity bill. Once you've calculated the average cost of your electricity bill, review the accuracy of your estimate for a few months. You can also reduce energy consumption on high-consumption items, such as air-conditioning units and heaters, and evaluate the impact monthly.
