Introduction: The Power Bill Conundrum Every Georgian Needs to Unravel
Did you just open your GA Power bill and fall into a state of shock? You are certainly not the only one!
Thousands of Georgia residents are asking the same worrisome question — “Why Has My GA Power Bill Gone Up?”
It seems inexplicable, especially with no significant changes in used energy or lifestyle to blame, leaving families to feel defeated and defeated.
But, like most things, there are clandestine causes involved in that rise — some you’d never suspect.
In this article, we will divulge 5 startling but completely real reasons for draining your wallet.
From sneaky energy robbers lurking in your house to unpredictable policy changes, we’ll uncover the truth behind what is seriously causing your power bill to be so out of whack — and how to fight back.
We want to take confusion to clarity and seize control of your energy dollars.
1. Surges of Extreme Weather: The Unlikely Offender
Georgia’s climate can flip on you in an instant. One week you are having a light breeze, the next it is sauna-like heat or an arctic-like cold spell.
Unexpected weather extremes like these are a major factor, and often not considered, reason for your GA power bill to keep climbing.
When the temperatures jump to hot or cold, your HVAC system has to work overtime just to maintain your comfort level indoors.3 Top Fact: Was There a Rocket Launch Today in California?
The increased load uses energy, and the more energy you use, the more it costs.
You may feel comfortable at a set point from your thermostat, but your system uses cycles longer, based on the extreme weather outside.
That’s especially true if your insulation or window seals are loose. If you have long summer daylight hours or long winter cold nights, the added energy drain could skyrocket your energy use in Georgia.
The bottom line is to be proactive! Take the time to have your HVAC maintained, and air sealed against leaks, or utilize programmable thermostats that balance comfort and efficiency!
If you understand the power-weather link, you are addressing your hefty power bill for the better!”Why Has My GA Power Bill Gone Up”
2. Georgia Power Rate Changes That Could Affect You Today
Your bill may have risen for one surprising reason that has nothing at all to do with your home, it’s what’s happening on the provider side.
Georgia Power changes its rate structure rather frequently, and most customers likely don’t even realize what’s happening when their rates go up due to things like a seasonal price increase, a fuel cost recovery fee, or a change in tiered pricing (for tiered plans).
These price changes happen behind the scenes, and they can have a real effect on your bill.
Usually, the changes are communicated to customers with a small message on bills or refer to the changes in very small print, allowing customers to miss the notification altogether and just see the increased bill.
Even worse! Given your energy usage habits, you might not be on the greatest rate if you are still on a default plan.
This is why you should visit Georgia Power’s official website regularly. Check into the rate changes, once you learn about the changes can begin looking into pricing plans that fit your habits/needs as a lifestyle not just for the use of the month.
This way you will have a little “freedom” with the power provider and take the sting out of their annual and quarterly increases – which show up on your bill.
3. Phantom Power: Your Home’s Invisible Energy Thief
Those gadgets are still utilizing you—well, your electricity—even if you’re not actively using them. We know this phenomenon as phantom power, and it may be doing more damage to your bill than you think.
TVs left in standby mode, gaming consoles that are “off” and pulling power from the wall, chargers currently plugged in but with no device hooked up (looking at you, Apple!).
These devices are all sucking energy 24/7 while you aren’t aware of it.
These phantom devices can make up a significant amount of phantom power and energy usage in homes across Georgia—most can count dozens of these in their homes—and you could sleep through them sucking away as much as 10% of your monthly bill while you’re unsuspectingly moving through life!
It’s shocking! But the great news is, you can take care of this.7 Amazing Truths on What Donuts Is McDonald’s Selling?
You can invest in smart plugs, which automatically shut off the power when devices idle, unplug the chargers you aren’t using, or invest in advanced power strips, which do the work for you.
Sure, it may seem like a little change, but working together, you can make a big dent in phantom power. Little habits usually yield the most significant financial benefit.
4. Faulty Appliances Quietly Raising your Bill
Not all unproductive energy is visible. Sometimes the silent buzzing in the corner of your kitchen is the primary cause of your rising Georgia power bill.
Old or malfunctioning appliances -particularly- refrigerators, washing machines, and heating & cooling appliances could draw two, three or more times the energy they should.
Over time wear & tear to appliances will diminish their efficiency, and could force appliances to use more energy to perform simple tasks.
This added strain is going to cost you extra electricity -likely more than you think.
Say your refrigerator has a burnt-out motor, instead of using electricity on and off throughout the day, it may just run continuously and not cool your food properly.
And let’s not forget the HVAC appliance, a dirty air filter can cost you 15% extra on your bill or more. Regular maintenance, timely replacements and ENERGY STAR-rated upgrades could save you a tremendous amount of unnecessary energy usage.
So if you have any appliances that are older than 10 years, now is the time to do some investigating, because you never know what unproductive energy use could be costing you every single month.
5. Unforeseen service F Service Billing Errors You Likely Didn’t Notice
At times, the answer to “Why Has My GA Power Bill Gone Up?” is in the bill itself, literally. Service fees, point adjustments for meter readings, or one-time adjustments may make their way into your bill randomly and without notice.
Worse still, billing errors can go undetected for months unless your statement gets checked line-for-line.7 Amazing Facts on What Were Gas Prices in 2020
While each hidden fee may not seem significant at the time, those small fees can total a lot over time, and in some cases, customers have been billed an extra for supposedly incorrect usage due to bad smart meters and slow meters getting adjusted to sales.
Make a habit of looking at your bills every month. Compare your kWh usage, question your unknown charges, and call customer service if something does not look right.
In this way, you are at least paying for what you’ve used, and not paying too much more.
Conclusion: Don’t Let Power Bills Sneak Up on You Again
The next time you sit back and say to yourself: “Why Has My GA Power Bill Gone Up?” Remember; these questions didn’t happen randomly- and the reasons aren’t always clear…but they all can be addressed.
Extreme weather impact, energy leaks, unnoticed rate hikes, significantly old appliances, and billing errors. All of these contribute to the unfortunate, scary number we have to pay each month.
The good news is, NOW you have the “know-how” to protect yourself.
You can start taking control through easy and simple modifications in how you utilize power in your home and variables you are aware of, yet, cannot control.
Your power bills shouldn’t be a mystery in your life. And certainly shouldn’t feel like you are in a trap.
But, once you have awareness and are choosing to take action and make better choices you can eliminate shocks in your bill- and start saving money today.