By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Electricity tariff introduced in October 2020 has doubled the bill for consumers who are now finding ways to reduce consumption as well as costs, particularly those who have prepaid meters.
Transport fares and food prices are also up in major cities, including Lagos, the barometer for social and economic trends across the country. That necessitates financial adjustments, even for those with regular income.
Nairametrics reports below that although you would certainly pay more, knowing how to reduce electricity usage does lot of good to the pocket.
A prepaid meter is needed to benefit from these tips, the publication adds. Without it, bills run on estimates with little room to contest their accuracy.
To save power, start by getting a prepaid meter. Then follow these tips:
1. Cut off background power consumption
Turning off a device while leaving it plugged in does not cut off power supply. The device still consumes residue energy called vampire or stand by power.
Cut off power to a device by turning off the socket and the power switch on the device.
2. Replace bulbs with energy-efficient models
Non-energy-efficient bulbs are cheaper to buy but are more expensive in the long run. They consume far more power than energy-saving bulbs.
The average wattage of an ordinary bulb is between 60 and 200. However, energy-saving bulbs are between 7 and 11 watts. One consumes more than 10 times the power used in the other.
It helps to be cautious with how long you leave your lights on. Turn them off during the day and when you go to bed at night; especially lights in the kitchen, toilet, and bathroom. Leave only security lights on.
3. Limit fan and air conditioner runtime
Ceiling fan is one of the highest passive power consumers. If your fan runs all day and night, it significantly impacts your power bill.
Replace all fans with energy-efficient models or simply regulate how long old models run.
The energy-consuming capacity of an air conditioner (AC) is well known. Keep it running for a day, and it makes a telling impact on your bill.
A 1.5hp (1119 watts) AC running for 10 hours at N60 per kilowatt alone costs well over N30,000.
Shuffle run time between fan and air conditioner, depending on how many units of electricity you purchase per month. Running a fan for only about eight hours a day saves hundreds of naira.
4. Revisit your refrigerator
This is another appliance that consumes the most power. The average consumed by a refrigerator is 1200 watts per day (depending on the model).
Reduce consumption by purchasing a smaller refrigerator or do the following:
· Move the refrigerator to an area with adequate air circulation to make it power-efficient.
· It should be at least two inches away from the wall and not stand directly exposed to sunlight.
· Do not stuff up the refrigerator. Doing so reduces its efficiency as lesser space is available for air circulation, and makes the unit draw more power to meet demand. Defrost the fridge regularly, too.
List all your appliances and their watt rating. Trim down consumption by replacing a device with a more energy-efficient model or reduce its use.