3 tips to help keep your energy in check

(NC) Understanding your energy consumption is essential when managing your home budget. It helps you better control your usage and ensure that you are being charged accurately while spotting opportunities for savings. If you’re feeling the pinch, here are some practical tips to help you keep costs down.

Energy-efficient upgrades
Investing in energy-efficient equipment can reduce your usage significantly. Additionally, consider the size of appliance you need, as larger appliances typically use more energy. Finally, proper maintenance on these devices from time to time, like cleaning the coils on your refrigerator or emptying the lint trap on your dryer, can improve their efficiency.

Install a programmable thermostat
Running your heating or cooling systems excessively, especially when you're not home, can lead to higher energy consumption. A smart thermostat allows you to manage that by setting these systems to operate only when needed. You can program it to lower the temperature when you're asleep or away from home.

Consider your options
Review your energy bills and shop around to see if there are better options available for you. Especially if you are a resident of Alberta, as there are plan changes being made that can affect over 400,000 homes and businesses.

The Rate of Last Resort (RoLR) is set to become the new default electricity rate in the province. Unlike the previous Regulated Rate Option (RRO), which adjusts monthly, the RoLR will provide a fixed rate for a two-year period with a potential increase of up to 10 per cent after that term. The increase depends on factors that can vary significantly such as supply and demand, weather conditions and market volatility.

Also, while the RoLR offers a fixed rate model, it doesn’t guarantee that the rate will stay fixed within that two-year term. If providers of the new rate indicate they’re not meeting financial goals, the rate can be reset to a higher price. This means, even though you would get continued electricity service, your bills could go up by paying an unnecessary premium to help cover debt from other customers or from additional consumer awareness fees.

To find out if you will be switched to the new plan, check your most recent electricity bill to see if it includes an “RRO” or Rate of Last Resort next to your electricity site ID. Or contact your current provider for clarification.

The good news is you can switch off the plan at any time without penalty. Opting for a plan with affordable, steady rates offers peace of mind. Companies like ATCOenergy provide options designed to keep your electricity and gas bills manageable.

You can learn more about rate plans for electricity and gas at ATCOenergy.com

Attention editors: This content is reserved for distribution in Western provinces only.