Four Ways You Can Quickly Cut Down On Your Utility Bills

Our country's energy suppliers produce an unprecedented amount of electricity. In the mid-1990s, electricity was affordable at 7.1 cents per kilowatt hour in 1995; by that year the price to actually generate the electricity from the power companies was two-thirds the price of what the homeowner would pay for electricity. In 2013, United States energy use was over 13 times greater than the energy use of 1950. Moreover, the current cost to generate electricity amounts to less than half of the price of electricity according to the Edison Electric Institute. Cutting down on your electric bill is possible by following these steps to cut costs and find alternative electricity for your home.

Regulate Heat Year-Round 

Most wasted energy is due to heat or air conditioning that runs while no one is home. By installing a programmable thermostat, you can set your heater or air conditioner to run only during the hours that people are home. In total, this can help homeowners save as much as 10% per year on their heating and cooling bills.

Warm Bathing Water 

Studies have shown that most Americans dedicate up to 18% of their utility bills to water heating. New, tankless water heaters are able to store a greater reservoir of hot water while helping to eliminate costs, thus helping homeowners save hundreds on their hot water every year.

Energy-Saving Appliances 

Many Americans have joined a growing movement to find more economically friendly, low-energy alternatives to traditional appliances. The refrigerators of today use three-quarters less energy than the average refrigerator sold in 1975; this is even despite the fact that today's refrigerators are 20% larger and cost 60% less.

Alternative Electricity for Your Home 

Many homeowners are searching for more affordable alternative electricity companies in order to save on their monthly bills. Many of these companies take extra precautions to ensure that your home is using energy at a moderate rate relative to the size of your household. Already, these alternative energy companies have installed 50 million smart meters to regulate nearly 43% of homes in the United States.

3 Great Ways That Deregulated Electricity Can Change The Lives Of Americans

For the better part of a century, electricity was strictly governed by municipal entities. These days, deregulated electricity is beginning to change the way that Americans view their home's power, and power suppliers are being forced to adjust to the changing times. 

Deregulated electricity is available in certain parts of North America, and it allows for competitive energy suppliers to offer their products to homeowners and businesses. You are no longer restricted with whatever plan is offered in your city. Here are just three of the many benefits to deregulated electricity, and how it's helping to evolve the nation: 

Make your own choice: The deregulation of electricity markets has truly changed the industry, allowing for smaller companies with innovative ideas to spread their wings and gain exposure on a national scale.  In many states, as the owner of a home or business, you now have the intrinsic right to decide who and where you get your electricity from. 

Save money: The new products and techniques being used by these alternative energy companies can result in lower bills for homeowners and businesses alike. The Edison Electric Institute says that the cost of generating electrons for renewable energy accounts for less than half the price of normal electricity. Increased monthly electricity bills can be mainly attributed to the widespread usage of smartphones, tablets, and other devices that need to be charged in order to operate. Electricity use in the U.S. was a whopping 13 times higher in 2013 than it was in 1950. You simply cannot afford to keep spending hundreds of dollars a month on a service that will only continue to grow in importance as the years pass.

Embrace the future: Deregulated electricity has opened the door for more Americans to be exposed to the many benefits of alternative energy sources. The way we produce and use electricity in 2015 will be in stark contrast to the way it is done in 2025, and there are great alternative energies working to perfect their product for a mainstream audience. There is also new technology, incentives, and reward programs being used by many of these deregulated companies that is designed to help save you money.

Be sure to explore deregulated electricity now and join the alternative energy revolution. It will only continue to grow, and you can be one of the first to be a part of this burgeoning industry.

Does Your State Offer Tax Incentives for Solar Panel Installation?

Nationwide, the deregulation of electricity markets means that many consumers have a choice of providers for their heating and cooling needs. Although some states have not fully completed the deregulation process, many consumers stand to benefit from the ability to pick their natural gas and/or electricity providers. 

Interested homeowners and renters can also save money in a variety of ways. There are currently many tax incentives designed to make the installation of solar panels an attractive option to homeowners. Not only do solar panels have the potential to save money, many electricity companies will actually purchase excess energy generated by the panels and absorb it into the larger energy grid for redistribution to other homes.

Homeowners can save hundreds every year just by the installation and use of a thermometer that can be programmed to lower the temperature at night, for example, or to turn itself to a much lower setting when owners are at work or out of the home. Savings for larger homes that consume more electricity can add up: experts say that just a few degrees' difference can save homeowners hundreds of dollars every year.

The deregulation of electricity markets also means that many consumers have more "green" options for their natural gas and electricity providers. In some areas of the country, large turbines that harness the power of the wind are responsible for generating much of the electricity that consumers use to power their homes. As the cost of generating the electricity goes down, the consumers can expect to harness those savings as well.

Consumers report that deregulated energy markets deliver them more choices, but some states have not yet completed the deregulation process. Energy suppliers in those states do not have many competitors, if any, and some consumers express a desire for a wider range of options. Deregulated energy was designed to introduce competition between energy companies, with an goal of financial savings for homeowners.

With many power suppliers increasingly finding ways to harness low-cost, sustainable energy sources such as solar and wind power, consumers across the country are gaining the power to choose sustainable energy for themselves.

Leading Energy Conglomerate Urges for Alternative Energy Investment at Recent UN Meeting

The 70th United Nations General Assembly was held at the end of September in New York, United States. One of the main topics of conversation was the use and pursuit of alternative energy sources and the power companies that are working to achieve them. Tonye Cole, the executive director of the Sahara Group, was one of the leading advocates urging people to consider investing in affordable renewable energy companies, according to the Nigerian newspaper TheNationOnlineNG. 

The Sahara Group is one of the leading African energy, power, and infrastructure conglomerates on the continent. Cole believes with the right investments from governments and energy companies alike, vast improvements can be made that will improve socioeconomic growth in rural communities around the world by 2030. 

"Substantial investments are required to achieve affordable and sustainable energy in developing nations. Wind and solar energy are possible options that can be harnessed in rural communities where consumption is relatively low," Cole said. "With the right strategy and unwavering commitment from all stakeholders, we will be setting solid foundations for deploying alternative energy sources to transform lives and small businesses for disadvantaged communities across the globe." 

In 1995 it cost about 7.1 cents per kilowatt hour to deliver electricity to investor-owned utilities and generation accounted for nearly two-thirds of the overall price. Today, generating the electricity accounts for less than half the cost, according to the Edison Electric Institute. 

One of his calls to action was for more governments to form partnerships with private businesses in the pursuit of this goal. By working with power suppliers he believes they will be able to more effectively persuade the population at large of the value chain of the power sector to ensure support for policies as well as address any potential problems that arise. 

Sahara Group has been promoting energy companies' use of alternative sources for many years. They've even established competitions and initiatives that promote the research and development of the industry among students and professionals.

UK Launches First Certified Supply Initiative for Renewable Energy Companies

Buying alternative electricity for your business just got more transparent in the United Kingdom. A lot of companies like to talk the talk when it comes to finding renewable energy companies to do business with, but in the U.K. they will now have the opportunity to really put their money where their mouths are. SmartestEnergy, the country's biggest purchaser of renewable electricity from the independent generation sector, is starting an initiative to make this possible in conjunction with their new Tariff Emission Factor Model, according to the environmental news source ClickGreen.org.uk. 

"A growing number of large businesses are looking to reduce their carbon footprint by buying 100% renewable electricity and we believe this energy label will support that ambition," said Robert Groves, SmartestEnergy's Chief Executive Officer. "We recognize some organisations will want to go further and specify the types of renewable electricity they buy... we can also support that." 

Developed with the support of the Carbon Trust, a not-for-dividend company that helps organisations reduce their carbon emissions and become more resource efficient, the new model allows SmartestEnergy to designate renewable energy labels for power suppliers to specific customers so that the end client will know exactly how the energy is generated originally. 

In the United States for example, the cost of generating electrons accounts for only half the cost of electricity today compared to about two-thirds in 1995 when the average cost to deliver investor-owned electricity was 7.1 cents per kilowatt hour, according to the Edison Electric Institute. 

The label will be made annually for all renewable energy companies involved, which will show prospective customers the carbon footprint of given power companies. The certification will allow these businesses to feel confident in what they're buying and they can relay the information to their potentially environmentally-minded consumers. 

"This new service from SmartestEnergy, supported by the Carbon Trust’s expertise in carbon footprinting, is providing exactly the kind of transparency required to ensure that suppliers of electricity are not contributing to double counting or under reporting of corporate emissions, by enabling certificates to be tracked and attributed to specific tariffs or customers," Groves said. 

The growth of renewable energy companies has exploded over the last decade or so with the majority of people becoming more concerned about such matters.

Alternative Power Companies Reaching Out to Rural Customers

Since the deregulation of electricity markets in the United States, consumers have had a wider choice of power suppliers, including alternative power companies that harness wind energy or solar energy to power their consumers' homes and businesses. Coupled with a decrease in the price of standard electricity production, many American homeowners are seeing reduced heating and cooling bills at home and their places of business.

Homeowners who install solar panels may feed excess energy back into the larger electricity grid and receive monthly or quarterly payments from their local electric companies. Many homeowners see solar panels as an investment that "pays for itself" over a few years of use, and some have even installed wind turbines on land that they own, citing a commitment to sustainable energy.

Alternative power companies have seen a marked increase in the last ten years: solar power is now more efficient and affordable, and many states offer rebates or tax incentives for homeowners who install high-performance solar panels. Wind turbines are being built across America with the intention of maximizing energy that is generated from sources that are both low-cost and ecologically friendly.

Power suppliers are also providing homeowners with tips to minimize home heating and cooling costs. The average electricity bill is about $100 every month, but homeowners who install thermostats to control their homes' temperatures may save as much as 10% on their heating and cooling bill every month. Thermostats that can be programmed to lower a home's temperature while homeowners are asleep or at work may save over $1000 every year.

In areas of the country with consistently high heating or cooling costs, alternative power companies offering discounted electric rates seem to be expanding their customer base. Many Americans are willing to consider wind or solar energy now that the prices for installation have dropped considerably and report a positive experience with contractors and installers. 

Reaching out to rural areas that may have previously been disconnected from the larger electric grid, upgrading small businesses to solar power, and offering incentives and rebates to homeowners are all helping alternative power companies participate in deregulated energy markets.

Energy Bill Too High? Look Into Deregulated Electricity

Energy Bill Too High? Look Into Deregulated Electricity

In today's rapidly evolving times, everyone is looking for new ways to save on energy costs. Some people see a solution in buying a more energy efficient car while others turn down their thermostat for the winter. Whether you like to recycle or double-check your lights before you leave the house, deregulated electricity is an effective way of making sure your living habits are easy on the environment and on your wallet. If your energy bill is stressing you out and you're not sure where to start, never fear -- below I'll detail electricity usage in the U.S., alternative energy sources and what you can do to save on money without skimping on quality.

Electricity Usage In The U.S.

The United States has seen a lot of changes in the past few decades, due in no small part to advancements in technology as well as a growing population. Did you know that electricity use in 2013 was more than 12 times greater than overall use in 1950? That's no small sum to sneeze at! The largest use in electricity, particularly in the residential sector, is in air-conditioning. Air-conditioning accounts for almost 20% of residential use and is used primarily to alter temperature and reduce allergen build-up. Around 43% of homes, as well, have had companies install smart meters to measure their energy use. So how can you save on your own energy costs?

How You Can Save On Energy Costs

Did you know you can save as much as 10% per year on energy costs by changing your thermostat? A programmable thermostat estimates the air and turns off automatically when a certain threshold is reached, which means no more regrets! The average household costs around $107 in electric costs and changing your habits, such as installing a more efficient water heater, can decrease your bill by as much as 14%. Deregulated electricity is fast becoming the way of the future and there are multiple alternative electricity suppliers available to help you help yourself. Renewable energy companies will help you with repair, installation and sharing positive day-to-day habits that will benefit you financially.