Electricity supply is not just a necessity for many households in Norway and beyond. Furthermore, it is for many commercial and industrial establishments. By and large, its importance includes:

• Indoor temperature control/regulation
• Powering various appliances
• Aiding information technology
• Aiding manufacturing processes
• Improving quality of life
• Boosting economic activities

There are a lot more benefits besides the ones mentioned above. You can check this article for more on this.

Its significance therefore explains the huge frustrations that many Norwegians are dealing with. This is considering how electricity tariffs are becoming increasingly costly. For example, a megawatt-hour sold for as much as 246 euros sometime in the second quarter of the year 2022.

Another example is how the electricity price went up by around 150 percent between October and November of the year 2023. In light of this, tips on how to reduce electricity costs have never been more relevant. Thankfully, you will find some tips to steer you in the right direction as you keep reading.

How to Save Money on Your Electric Bill

There are things that you can and cannot do when it comes to reducing your home’s electricity cost. For example, there is very little or nothing you can do to determine how much a megawatt-hour of electricity would cost.

On the other hand, it is in your power to determine your power consumption rate. So, this is essentially what this part of the article will be focused on. Furthermore, you would also do yourself a lot of good by choosing the right power company and plan.

This calls for researching available options and choosing the right one. Having made this clear, discussed below are some tips for reducing electricity costs in your home:

1. Take Energy-Efficiency Seriously

This is about the use of the right products and installing them properly. Among other things, these are the kinds that consume less power, require that less power is consumed, and that are environmentally sustainable.

By the way, environmental sustainability suggests using products and installations that leave little or no carbon footprint. By the way, this is not just about reducing how much you spend on electricity bills but acting in the best interest of the immediate and global space. Having made this clear, the use of energy-efficient products and installations requires the use of energy-efficient:

Appliances

Some appliances consume more power than others. This could be for reasons including the use of old and outdated models. So, people who use such appliances are seriously advised to consider using new and very energy-efficient models.

Furthermore, purchased appliances must conform to energy efficiency standards. Opting for appliances that have a premium-grade Energy Star rating is one of the most guaranteed ways to make the right choice. By the way, this should be more of a priority than getting cheap appliances that fall short in this regard.

Windows & Doors

Using the right household appliances is a huge part of running an energy-efficient home as discussed above. However, there is more to it than this. Furthermore, you also need to have the right indoor features and installations in place.

The quality of windows and doors used should be one of the major areas of concern. This is because windows and doors play a huge part in determining how well-insulated a home is. A poorly insulated home would require more artificial indoor temperature regulation. This is especially true during cold seasons.

As a result, poor insulation means that more indoor heating is required, which in turn increases your electricity bill. For this reason, invest in energy-efficient windows and doors. Furthermore, there are energy-efficient curtains and you should invest in such as well.

2. Lighting

There are two recommendations to help save cost as it concerns light. The first is to use the right kind of lighting in your home.

LED lights are highly recommended. The reason is because they consume very little power. By the way, their emission quality is better.

To help you come to terms with how energy-efficient they are, they consume 9 times less energy than regular incandescent lights. They are also the more durable option.

So, you should rather buy and use them even though this would cost you extra. For more information on this, you can visit: https://www.energy.gov/.

The second recommendation is to make the most of natural lighting when you can. Doing so reduces the need for artificial lighting. As a result, you get to save energy since artificial lights would not be used as much as you usually use them. By the way, there are tips to help you make the most of natural light, including the following:

• Cleaning your windows
• Using light-colored shades indoors
• Strategic use of mirrors – This is because of their natural ability to amplify and reflect natural light
• Installation of light tubes or skylights
• Using light-colored furniture
• Open floor design
• Light reflective floors
• Strategic positioning of furniture
• Installation of glass doors

These are a handful of tips to help you make the most of natural light. However, you should know that there are several other tips besides these.

3. Unplugging Whatever Is Not Being Used

Some electronics, appliances, chargers, and devices at large are capable of consuming power even when they are switched off but still plugged in. Such devices have a standby system that consumes power even while they are being switched off but are connected to a power source.

So, it is enough to just switch off your electronics, appliances, charges, and devices at large when you are not using them. Unplug them to avoid standby power consumption.

4. Periodic Maintenance of your HVAC System

More often than not, a lot of consumed power goes into regulating indoor temperature. In this part of the world, this is the case, especially during winter when indoor heating is an absolute necessity.

Well, the state of your heating system or any other HVAC system being used determines its power consumption rate. The point being established here is that faulty HVAC systems are more likely to consume more power than they should.

As a result, periodic HVAC maintenance services should be seen as a cost-saving measure. Furthermore, do not turn a blind eye to any abnormalities with your HVAC system. This is regardless of how minor it may seem. The situation should be reported to experienced and qualified technicians.

5. Limit the Use of Appliances during Peak Hours

Electricity tariff is not the same throughout the day. The price fluctuates based on factors including, demand and supply. This is at least the case for people who are not subscribed to fixed electricity plans.

Such people are advised to minimize their use of appliances during peak periods when electricity prices are usually expensive. By the way, this means that you need to know these periods.

Typically, the immediate early hours of the day before people head for work, school, and other activities is a peak period. The same goes for the period when people return from work or school. So, the recommendation here is to reduce the use of appliances (especially heavy ones) during these periods.

For example, it is better to charge EVs (Electric Vehicles) overnight. This is rather than doing so right after work or in the morning, before heading for work.

6. Use a Smart Meter Plan

Generally speaking, timely/real-time information puts people in a better position to make informed decisions. Well, this is why you are advised to use plans that allow for the use of a smart meter.

This ensures that you know how much electricity you consume in your home. As a result, you can make the necessary adjustments.

7. Consider Bundled Plans

What if your route to using cheap electricity offers cost effectiveness in other areas? This is a huge possibility when the right bundled plan is used.

This is any kind of electricity subscription that offers additional services. Prime examples of such additional services include:

• Insurance
• Home security
• Internet connection

You should research the cost-effective possibilities of using bundled plans to see if it is worth it. By the way, some people have found out that it is a good way to use billig strøm (Norwegian for cheap electricity). So, it is worth your consideration, at the very least.

7. Consider Prepaid Plans

There are prepaid, as well as postpaid plans. The major difference between both is the timing of payment for power supply.

People who use postpaid plans pay after being supplied power. There are advantages to this, including how power interruptions on account of consuming all purchased quota are impossible. As mentioned early on, the reason is because your consumption is calculated after usage and then you are required to make payment. Well, this plan is not usually so beneficial for people who want to reduce power consumption.

On the other hand, prepaid plans are great for such people. This is because power is cut off once pre-purchased electricity is completely consumed. Of course, this is because you pay beforehand.

People who use this kind of plan are more likely to figure out how to use power in a cost-effective manner. So, you should seriously consider it if you are serious about reducing your electricity bill.

On a Final Note

Many Norwegians are finding it hard to cope with inconsistent and largely unfavorable electricity bills. Well, there is what they can and cannot do about this, as stressed early on. What they can do is reduce their consumption, especially at periods of the day when electricity prices are on the high side.

This article has shed light on this subject by discussing several tips. You are therefore advised to make informed decisions based on this article’s recommendations. Furthermore, the right power company and electricity plan must be subscribed to.