Energy Rates
Routine Care Task
Shop around for better energy rates and service
With competition, you may be able to find better prices and better services for your energy commodities.
Priority
Timing: March (yearly)
NOTE: The tasks and timings shown here for your Energy Rates are based on a single-family home located in Massachusetts with a default set of home care goals and priorities.
If you setup your POLICY-Wizard™ personal home manager for a different location with different home care goals, your recommended home care program can have different tasks and timings for your {home feature}.
How To
This task involves exploring opportunities for better prices and service for your energy needs:
- Electricity
- Natural gas
- Heating oil
- Propane
To get started, make a list of potential suppliers of energy that you use in your home. To develop this list, look in your local yellow pages, contact your town or city, talk to neighbors, check on the Internet, etc.
For both electricity and gas, find out if your rates are lower at different times of the day. If so, you can schedule to use your high energy-using appliances (dishwasher, shower, clothes dryer, etc) at times of the day that will cost you less.
If your state has begun deregulation of electricity or natural gas, you may be able to purchase your energy from a non-regulated third-party supplier with lower prices. Check with your state energy commission to determine if your state has begun deregulation and if this is an option.
When you consider different suppliers, your evaluation of suppliers should consider price, reliability and service.
Helpful Accessories
Allows you to check the energy use of anything that can be plugged into an outlet
consumer reviews, choices, prices
Great for monitoring and managing your whole house energy usage
consumer reviews, choices, prices
Infrared temperature monitor for conducting a do-it-yourself home energy audit
consumer reviews, choices, prices
Benefits
The benefits of this task will depend on how energy competition has developed in your particular state.
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Saving Money (beyond energy)
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Energy Savings
Costs
The cost of this task is relatively high from an investment in time standpoint. It could take several hours to do the appropriate research and analysis.
