10 ways to trim your household energy costs

By Patrick McIntyre, CSU Energy Coordinator

With College Station residents sheltering in place during the COVID-19 outbreak, households are using substantially more electricity. 

Here are 10 ways you can trim your electric costs:

1. The most essential step is raising your thermostat setting. Just two degrees above your usual setting can cut your cooling costs by five percent. 
2. Use ceiling fans rather than air conditioning as much as possible. Fans use about as much energy as a light bulb.
3. Turn off lights, fans, and electronics when a room is unoccupied.
4. Replace incandescent and CFL lighting with low-wattage LEDs, which use 50-90 percent less energy.
5. Do your laundry in the evening or at night when temperatures are cooler.
6. Use cold water to wash your clothes.
7. Run your dishwasher only when you have a full load.
8. Check your air conditioning filter and replace it frequently. Dirty filters can increase costs by about 20 percent.
9. Consider a Wi-Fi programmable thermostat, which allows precise control of your cooling system.
10. 10. Take advantage of our Energy Back II, Residential LED Lighting, and Connected Thermostat rebates.

Report power outages, water line breaks, wastewater spills, and backups, and other electric, water, or wastewater problems to 855.528.4278 — and have your CSU account number ready. Our dispatch operates 24 hours a day. 

Despite the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on our community, College Station Utilities remains committed to providing you with reliable electric power while taking the proper precautions to protect the health and safety of our staff.

For more information on how to reduce your electricity costs, contact me at pmcintyre@cstx.gov or 979-764-6343. For billing questions, contact Utility Customer Service at 979-764-3535. 

About the Blogger

Patrick McIntyre is the energy coordinator for College Station Utilities and is responsible for energy conservation and key accounts programs. Pat joined CSU as a key accounts representative in 2009. He previously worked for 17 years in the manufacturing sector and eight years as a consultant with the Texas Engineering Extension Service. Pat graduated from Texas A&M in 1982 with B.S. in Industrial Distribution and has lived in the area since 1984.

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