this post was submitted on 19 Jun 2026
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Americans to be hit with record-high electricity bills this summer (www.independent.co.uk)
submitted 1 day ago by sanitation@lemmy.today to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] Machinist@lemmy.world 3 points 5 hours ago

Not OP.

That sucks. Especially having to make poor people financial decisions, you often can't afford to make changes that will save you money in the long run. Been there done that.

Still, there may be some things you can do to save electricity.

Cheapo line meter. I use one on my well pump. It shows usage over time. You can figure out what's using the most juice. It does 200v as well as 110 and clamps on. Does have to be wired in to for it's power supply and ground.

Also, Kill-a-Watt clones. $9.99. Shows you how much plug in things use.

Offhand things that might help:

  • Hot water heater on a timer and turn down the thermostat. There wil be bitching.
  • If you have an electric stove, inductance stoves are supposed to be the most efficent, but you probably can't afford one. Electric kettles for boiling water probably beat using a stove to heat water.
  • Use a kill-a-watt to figure out what is using juice when appliances/TV/PC/etc. is on standbym
  • Check freezer temp, it may be colder than you have to have it, turn up the thermostat.
  • Check anything with a motor that plugs in with the kill-a-watt, like box fans to see if they're pulling too much juice, when the motor bearings get shitty, you'll pull more over coming friction.
  • Use that clamp meter to check things like whole house blower fans, bathroom fans.

Good luck.