If you’re taking advantage of an offer to save in winter like Rate Flex D, Hilo or a combination of both, peak demand events are an opportunity to easily lower your electricity bill. By taking certain actions in each room, you can cut your electricity use without compromising comfort. Let’s take a tour of your house, with savings in mind.
Bathroom
Planning on hopping in the shower just before a peak demand event to avoid using hot water during the event? This is one of the most common mistakes.
Why? Because when you empty your hot water tank, the water heater automatically turns on. That uses a lot of electricity, at the exact moment when you should be using less.
Solutions :
- Take a shower the day before the peak demand event or after the event.
- If that’s not possible, take a short shower rather than a bath.
- Stop the fan as soon as possible after use.
Kitchen
Plan meals
Peak demand events are announced one day ahead, so you can plan your meals accordingly.
Some easy, practical ideas:
- Cold meals: Meal salads, hearty sandwiches, poke bowls and charcuterie boards.
- Cooking ahead: Heating food in the microwave uses three times less electricity than the oven or stovetop.
- Small appliances: A toaster oven, pressure cooker and air fryer use less electricity and heat for less time.
Did you know?
A slow cooker uses up to 80% less electricity than an oven, and it’s perfect for preparing a comforting stew. The “low” and “warm” settings allow for no-fuss cooking outside of peak demand events.
Use hot water wisely
- Rinse food and dishes in cold water.
- Start the dishwasher after the event.
- If your dishwasher has a programming feature, use it to simplify your life.
Laundry room
Your washer and dryer are very power-hungry. Ideally, try to run your loads outside of peak demand events.
If you don’t have a choice:
- do laundry in cold water;
- use the dryer before or after the events;
- take advantage of programming features, if your machines have them.
Living areas, bedrooms and workspaces
Two hours before a peak demand event, preheat the rooms you’ll be using. Your home will conserve the heat and stay comfortable.
Other useful habits:
- Lower the heat in unused rooms and close the doors.
- Open the curtains during the day to let in sunlight and close them in the evening to keep the heat inside.
- Use throws, cushions and blankets to get cozy.
- Set your ceiling fan to winter mode to redistribute heat.
Thinking of turning on your electric fireplace and an auxiliary electric heater? Not a good idea. They’ll cancel out your energy-saving efforts in no time.
Simplify by automating!
Smart devices like thermostats, charging stations and water heater controllers automatically adjust their operation to reduce your electricity use at the right moment.
With Hilo, for example, everything happens automatically: preheating, temperature regulation, recovery. You’ll save without lifting a finger.
Garage
You don’t have to heat your garage as much as the rest of your house. Keeping the garage cooler saves money and is beneficial for your vehicle as well.
If you have an electric vehicle:
- charge it at night or between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.;
- program your charging times;
- use a charging station compatible with Hilo, like EVduty , which reduces power demand during the peak event and restores it afterwards.
Peak demand events don’t upset your daily routine. With a bit of planning and a few simple habits, you can save big!
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