<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=192888919167017&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
March 19, 2024

Linkedin Pinterest

Energy Adviser: Retirees can see bump in energy bill

By
Published:

In retirement, the world can start to center around the home in unexpected ways. Not going to work anymore and spending more time in or around the house can add up and result in surprising utility bills.

When figuring out living costs for retirement, many tally up all the monthly costs to create a budget for living on a fixed income. And planning ahead to manage energy use can help make those numbers match up.

“When customers retire, they may forget that their utility bill will likely go up,” said DuWayne Dunham, energy services supervisor for Clark Public Utilities. “Retirement usually means staying home more, and being in the home for longer periods of time can really impact energy costs.”

Being home during traditional business hours adds 40 to 50 more hours of energy use every week. That equals more meal preparation at home, more use of entertainment and electronic devices, and up to 24 hours a day of heating or air conditioning to keep the home comfortable.

Individually these energy uses may not seem significant, but they add up. So consider cutting your biggest utility costs first — heating, cooling and heating water. For some it might even make sense to do some upgrading of the heating system and weatherization measures before retirement so your home is ready. But if more expensive upgrades aren’t possible, there are still low to no cost changes that can help keep costs low.

“Recent retirees who see a hefty hike in their electric bill can usually attribute that to heating and cooling,” said Dunham. “So, that’s the best place to start bringing costs back down.”

Comfort in retirement is key, but if you’re willing to be a bit cooler when it’s cold and a bit warmer when it’s hot, set the thermostat a couple of degrees up or down. These adjustments of even one degree for 8 hours or longer can make a dent in monthly heating and cooling costs.

Water and lighting

The second-largest utility cost is the water heater. Consider replacing your showerheads with the lowest flow ones you can find, which will reduce the amount of water you use showering, which means you’ll heat less water. The same is true for faucet aerators that reduce the amount of hot water flowing from sinks.

And while it’s not a large part of the utility bill, don’t forget lighting. Being home more often means more lights on. But with LED technology, the cost to light your home can be just pennies. And costs are coming down. A pack of three LED bulbs is often available at local retail stores for less than $10. LEDs contain no mercury, so they don’t need recycling, and they last up to 20 years.

“Our Simple Steps program makes buying LEDs affordable by bringing the costs down in the store with an instant rebate,” said Dunham. “Customers should look for the Simple Steps sign right on the shelf when shopping for lightbulbs.”

There are lots of ways to prepare the home for retirement and reduce wasted energy, while not sacrificing comfort or costing too much up front. For those larger projects, rebates and loans are available for many energy efficient upgrades that can help keep electric costs lower over time. Learn more at ClarkPublicUtilities.com or call an energy counselor at 360-992-3355 during business hours.

Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.

Loading...