16 Ways To Save Money on Your SDG&E Bill

16 Ways To Save Money on Your SDG&E Bill

Don’t pay more than you need to for energy. Check out these tips to shrink your SDG&E bill, and one that even pays you!

By
Katie Overmonds
April 9, 2019

1. Get paid to unplug once per week with OhmConnect

Haven’t heard of OhmConnect yet? It’s a free, secure service that pays you to save energy when demand across California is high and the electrical grid is overworked.

How it works:

  1. Around once per week you’ll receive an SMS or email notification letting you know about an upcoming OhmHour.
  2. You unplug unnecessary items and turn down the thermostat for that hour - anything you can do to use less power. (Some committed folks even flip their circuit breakers!)
  3. If you used less energy than you were predicted to, you earn money.

Find out more about the program and see if you’re eligible, here.

2. Change your lightbulbs

The average electric bill is a hefty $183 a month—so every dollar saved counts. Energy Star-qualified CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) light bulbs last about 10 times longer and use 75 percent less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. The Department of Energy says one CFL pays for itself in energy savings in less than nine months.

3. Swap out your windows

Prevent chilly winter drafts, and an unexpectedly high bill, by adding a layer of insulation with storm windows. This one requires some outlay: windows plus installation can cost $200 to $300 each, though you can reduce that cost by installing them yourself. But depending on the type of window you’re replacing, it can reduce heat loss by 10-20 percent—which can add up to some serious savings over the long run. Heating and cooling typically account for 50 percent of your energy bill.

4. Run your ceiling fans year-round

When it comes to your heating bill, make sure that you have your ceiling fans rotating clockwise in the winter time. That pushes the warm air downward, allowing for less use of your system for heat. Doing so could reduce your heating bills by around 10 percent.

5. Adjust your thermostat

The optimal winter temp is 68 and summer is 73 —it keeps your home warm and your heating and cooling bills low. Go up or down one degree at a time until you reach your ultimate goal - You’ll typically save around 3 percent per degree.

6. Better yet, upgrade to a programmable or smart thermostat

Programmable thermostats: Using the four pre-programmed settings, which allow you to adjust the times you turn on the heating or air-conditioning according to a pre-set schedule, can save you up to $180 a year.

Smart thermostats: These devices not only let you monitor and control your home’s temperature from your smartphone, PC or tablet but can help reduce your energy bill too.

7. Pull the plug

Unplug “energy vampires,” like your laptop, TV and cable box, when you’re not using them. (Leaving your computer on all day alone costs an estimated $75 a year.)

8. Paint your roof white

A study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Heat Island Group found that in sunny climates, buildings with white roofs required up to 40% less energy for cooling than those with black roofs.

9. Do a nightly energy sweep

A nightly sweep through the house to ensure all electronic devices are turned off can add up quickly in savings.

10. Set your water heater at 120 degrees

Not only does heating your water too hot create the danger of scalding, it can cost you cash.

11. Check for yourself - Do your meter and utility bill match up?

Utility workers make mistakes just like the rest of us, and it can be costly. Make sure you’re only getting charged for the electricity you actually used by comparing the meter reading on your utility bill to what you actually see on your meter.

SDG&E Customer Assistance Programs

12. Subsidized Housing Assistance Relief for Energy (SHARE) Program

If you’re approved for subsidized housing and facing financial hardship, you could be eligible to receive help on your SDG&E bill through the SHARE Program.

13. SDG&E’s AC Saver (Summer Saver) Program

You can earn credits on your bill if you help SDG&E conserve when the cost of energy is high.

14. SDG&E’s Financial help for special energy needs program

This program supports households with qualifying medical conditions or requires certain medical equipment in your home.

15. California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE)

CARE Offers a 30% or more monthly bill discount. Qualification is based on participation in certain public assistance programs or by income guidelines.

16. Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA)

If you're not eligible for CARE, you may qualify for an 18% monthly bill discount through FERA.