AUGUST 2023
THE MESSENGER A Publication for North Arkansas Electric Cooperative Members
4 KEY FACTORS That Impact Energy Bills
You pay for the electricity you consume each month, but there are additional factors that impact your energy bills.
1.
Fuel Costs Before electricity can be delivered to your home, it first must be generated at a power plant or from a renewable source. The cost of fuels used to generate electricity fluctuates, which is why you see a power cost adjustment on your monthly bill. This is a debit or credit depending on the month’s fuel bill from NAEC’s wholesale power provider.
Most smart bulbs can be controlled from an app on your smartphone or can be paired with your voice assistant, like Amazon Alexa.
Smart lighting offers convenience, efficiency
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2.
Your bill includes an electric distribution charge, which recovers part of NAEC’s ongoing investments in poles, wire, meters, system maintenance and other costs necessary to provide electric service to your home or business at all times.
3.
Weather When temperatures soar or dip, your cooling or heating equipment must run longer and at maximum capacity, which greatly can increase your energy use. Extreme temperatures also can affect electricity market prices. When the need for electricity increases due to extreme heat or cold, the price of power typically rises.
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Energy Consumption
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Gone are the days when a simple flip of the switch was the only choice for illuminating our homes. Although we still have this tried-and-true option, we’ve entered a new era of innovative and intelligent technologies, which includes smart lighting. Smart lighting connects to Wi-Fi and offers an array of cutting-edge functionality and convenience. Let’s look at the main benefits of smart lighting options. Smart lighting is energy efficient. Most smart bulbs utilize LED technology, which is much more efficient than traditional incandescent lighting. Additionally, smart lighting gives you more control over how and when you light your home, ultimately resulting in less energy used for lighting. Smart lighting provides convenience and control. Most smart bulbs can be controlled from an app on your smartphone or can be paired with your voice assistant, such as Amazon Alexa. You conveniently can control lighting settings from anywhere in your home or when you’re away. Whether you want to set a schedule for lighting
Service Costs
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This is the amount of electricity you use each month to power your home’s cooling/heating system, appliances, lighting, electronics and more. The amount of electricity you consume is measured in kilowatt-hours, or kWh. You have control over how much energy you use, which ultimately can help manage your monthly costs.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIP OF THE MONTH Ceiling fans can make a room feel 4 degrees cooler? To save energy through ceiling fan use, raise your thermostat a few degrees while fans are turned on. Ceiling fans can help improve comfort year-round. In the summer, operate ceiling fans in a counterclockwise direction. Reverse the direction to clockwise during winter months and set fans on a low speed. Warm air will circulate from the ceiling to the lower levels. Remember, ceiling fans cool people, not spaces. Turn off when you leave a room.