Resolution: Cut Natural Gas Bills
This New Years, make a resolution that will keep more money in your pocket. Each year, the energy you use costs you thousands of dollars. And that’s very true of what you pay Georgia gas companies. But there are a few simple ways you can cut back and save a lot of money. Let’s look at nine New Years resolutions to cut your natural gas bills.
Cut Gas Bills with Lower Energy Use
Using less energy in your home is an easy way to save money. Follow these tips to make changes with the biggest impact on your GA gas bill.
Thermostat: according to the EIA, most residential energy use is for space heating. So instead of keeping your house a toasty 75°, lower the thermostat to 68°. Get even more savings by lowering the setting another 8° overnight or when out of the house. This can save you 10% on energy bills!
Water Heater: next to space heating, your water heater is the biggest expense. Many of us have our setting higher than it needs to be. Lower your water heater setting to 120° and save up to 22%.
Seal and Insulate: drafts and poor insulation show up on your natural gas bill. Add weather stripping to doors, caulk windows, and add insulation to your attic or crawl space where needed. These upgrades can lower energy bills by 10%.
Water Use: Take your water heating savings further by being smarter with your water use. Shorter showers, washing clothes in cold water, and running your dishwasher only when full all make an impact.
Appliance Upgrade: how old are your natural gas appliances? If your furnace is a couple decades old, upgrading to an Energy Star unit today gets you at least 17% higher efficiency. Dishwashers, gas ovens and ranges, water heaters, washers and dryers also have significantly improved efficiency over the years.
Lower Gas Bills with Smart Shopping
In addition to cutting your energy use, save on your gas bill with smart shopping tips!
- Reminders: mark the date in your calendar to start shopping for a new natural gas plan. Give yourself at least a few weeks from the date your current plan expires to compare plans and prices.
- Shoulder Months: take advantage of shoulder months when low demand tends to lower GA gas prices. These lower demand periods are typically in spring and fall. Then, choose a plan that sets you up to shop again in the shoulder months when that plan expires!
- Variable Rates: often these plans will cost more than a fixed rate plan over the long term. However, switching to a variable rate plan can get you a cheap price for a month or two as you wait for shoulder month prices.
- Bill Pay: Lastly, make sure you pay your bill on time to avoid late charges and other fees that can easily stack up. The easiest way to do this is setting up automatic bill pay online. If that option doesn’t work for you, set reminders in your phone or calendar.
Although we are not in a typical shoulder month period, gas rates are cheap in Georgia right now. Find a new natural gas plan today or more energy savings tips at https://www.georgiagassavings.com.