Your home’s energy use isn’t random. It’s shaped by how your home is built, the equipment inside it and the everyday choices you make. When you understand what’s behind your utility bill, you can take simple, meaningful steps to help manage your energy usage and keep costs predictable.
Your home: The foundation of energy use
Your home’s structure plays a major role in how much energy you use to stay comfortable. If your home leaks heated or cooled air, your appliances need to work harder to keep you comfortable, and that shows up on your bill.
Easy steps you can take to reduce energy usage:
- Seal gaps and cracks around windows, doors and baseboards to prevent drafts.
- Use blinds or curtains strategically:
- Close them on hot summer days to block heat.
- Open them on sunny winter days to let warmth in.
These simple actions don’t just help save energy — they can help make your home more comfortable year-round.
Heating and cooling: Your biggest energy driver
For most households, heating and cooling make up the largest share of energy use. Even small changes in how you heat or cool your home can make a noticeable difference.
Easy steps you can take to help reduce energy usage:
- Adjust your thermostat a few degrees. Even a small change can reduce energy use without sacrificing comfort.
- Install a smart or programmable thermostat to automatically adjust temperatures when you’re asleep or away from home for three hours or more.
- Replace HVAC filters regularly to help keep your system running efficiently.
- Schedule routine maintenance so your equipment performs at its best.
These steps can help your system use less energy while keeping your home comfortable.
Appliances and electronics: The everyday energy users
Your refrigerator, water heater, washer/dryer and other appliances run quietly in the background — but they add up. Electronics like TVs, gaming consoles and computers also draw power, sometimes even when they’re off.
Easy steps you can take to help reduce energy usage:
- Run full loads in your dishwasher and washing machine.
- Use cold water for laundry when possible.
- Unplug devices or use advanced power strips to eliminate “standby” power when they are not being used.
- Upgrade to ENERGY STAR® appliances when older equipment needs replacing.
These small changes can reduce your daily energy use without changing your routine.
When you use energy can matter, too
Shifting some activities to off-peak times can help you save if you are on our Time of Use rate.
Here are steps you can take to reduce energy usage during peak hours on Time of Use rate:
- Run dishwashers or laundry machines on delay, if possible, during off-peak hours.
- Set electric vehicles and electric lawn equipment batteries to charge overnight.
- Use timers to schedule other appliances when rates are lower.
Time of Use is an option to help manage costs without changing what you do — just when you do it.
Want more predictability? Consider our Equal Payment Plan
Signing up for our Equal Payment Plan (EPP) can help smooth out seasonal spikes in your bill. EPP estimates your yearly energy costs (based on last year’s usage) and divides the total into 12 equal monthly payments, so you pay the same amount each month. After a midyear review, your payment may be adjusted if your usage has changed. After 12 months, we will bill or credit you with the difference between your actual usage and the estimate.
The EPP doesn’t reduce your energy use or overall bill for the year, but it makes your monthly bill more predictable, which can help with budgeting.
The bottom line
Weather and seasonal changes play a role; however, you can impact your energy bills based on choices you make every day — how you heat and cool your home, how you use appliances and how efficiently your home holds onto that conditioned air.
By understanding these drivers, you can take control and shape your energy use in ways that keep your home comfortable and help manage your monthly costs.
For more tips, tools and programs to help manage your energy bills, visit pseg.com/SaveEnergy.
