Renewable energy and energy efficiency tax credits are just one way to get some help on your tax return this year. These tax credits are a great way for the government to incentivize investment in clean energy technology, and they can save you some serious money if you take full advantage.

Federal Tax Credits Were Recently Extended

At the end of 2015, the U.S. Congress extended two renewable energy tax credits as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, meaning that you can qualify for some hefty tax credits this year if you made qualifying renewable energy or energy efficiency upgrades to your home during 2015.

Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit

If your family wants to take advantage of renewable energy tax credits, you’ll want to start with the Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit. This is a personal tax credit that allows you to claim up to 30% of the costs of qualified renewable energy systems. Some of the qualifying systems include:

• Small wind-energy systems
• Fuel cell systems
• Geothermal heat pumps
• Solar energy water heaters
• Solar electricity generators

Within these groups, there are limitations and stipulations for qualifying and determining what percentage of the system’s cost can be filed for. Visit energy.gov to learn more about the Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit.

Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credit

Previously, this tax credit expired at the end of 2014, but it was retroactively renewed from the start of 2015 until the end of 2016. Since 2015 was included, you can claim energy efficiency purchases during the past year on this year’s tax return!

The following list includes eligible products for tax credits:

• Building envelope improvements
  • Insulation materials and systems
  • Exterior doors and windows, including skylights
  • Roofs—pigmented roofs designed to reduce heat gain and asphalt roofs with cooling granules
• Heating, cooling, and water heating equipment
  • Advanced main air circulating fan
  • Natural gas, propane, or oil furnace or hot water boiler
  • Electric heat pump
  • Electric heat pump water heater
  • Central air conditioner
  • Natural gas, propane, or oil water heater
  • Biomass stoves

As with the other tax credit, there are specific requirements that are necessary to fully qualify for this tax credit. Be sure to review the Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credit requirements before sending in your claim.

Want to learn more about renewable energy or energy efficiency? Check out the rest of our Bright Insights blog for some further reading!

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Luckily, there are a few easy ways to determine which of your appliances is the most energy hungry!

One option is tracking how much you use your appliances and then comparing that data with your energy bill to see any patterns. You can manually calculate how much energy each of your appliances uses by plugging information about your appliances into an equation—we wrote a past blog about this if you’re interested!

However, if you don’t have the time to do a lot of math, you can follow some common rules of thumb to determine your home’s priciest appliances. Keep in mind, however, that not having specifics will only get you so far.

Costly Appliances

According to a study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, these are the appliances in your home that will consume the most energy in a given year, ranked in order.

1. HVAC system
2. Air conditioner
3. Water heater
4. Lighting fixtures
5. Washer and dryer
6. Refrigerator
7. Electric Oven
8. TV/DVD/VCR
9. Dishwasher
10. Computer (desktop or laptop)

Typical Costs to Run Appliances

To actually see some of this information in action, check out the information below that describes the average cost per hour to run several common appliances, assuming a cost of 10 cents per kilowatt-hour.

• Heat pump or central air: $1.50
• Dryer or water heater: $0.40
• Electric stove burner: $0.10
• Refrigerator: $0.10
• Computer and monitor: $0.04

A big takeaway from these findings: One of the most effective ways to save a lot of money at home is to make changes that allow you to take some stress off of your HVAC system and air conditioner!

Looking for some further reading? Check out the rest of our Bright Insights blog to learn more about residential energy efficiency!

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Extreme cold increases demand on oil

Polar vortex, or even just prolonged chilly winter weather, can cause a peak of demand on oil and other services. This increase in demand comes from the simple fact that many families are staying home and heating their homes.

This is when the laws of supply and demand rear their ugly heads. A drastically increased demand on these resources increases their cost. However, if you are purchasing fixed-rate electricity, like you can with Star Energy Partners, then you won’t have to worry!

Slow oil production

Cold temperatures make extracting oil from the ground a burden. Refineries are also slowed down due to cold weather, and these two aspects together can cause the actual production of oil during winter months to slow down. This can become a particularly troublesome problem if an oil shortage occurs and there is high demand for more oil.

Power outages

One side effect of inclement weather is the inevitable car accidents, which can lead to downed power lines and power outages. Power outages during the winter can exacerbate other problems, like rising energy prices and scarcity of propane and other fuels that are used for heating. It’s always important to drive safely, but that’s especially true in the winter!

Unseasonably warm temperatures

You would imagine that cold weather would be the only culprit, but unseasonably warm weather can also cause problems. Unusual seasonable temperatures that occur during an El Niño (just like this year) can hurt the energy industry by significantly reducing the amount of electricity many of us use during that. This makes sense, as warmer temperatures decrease the need to manually heat one’s home. In turn, this decreased usage can cut into energy companies’ revenue and potentially drive up prices for consumers.

Click here to learn how you can increase your home’s energy efficiency during the winter!

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Thinking of doing some home renovations? These six fixes will not only make your home more comfortable and visually appealing, they’ll significantly cut down on your electricity bill, too! The long-term savings are priceless.

Here are a few areas you can target during your next home improvement project to increase your home’s energy efficiency.

• Get a low flow toilet or showerhead. You can save a significant amount of money over time by installing these low flow fixtures. Naturally, prices will depend on where you live, but you can reasonably expect your new fixtures to pay for themselves in 10 years of use or less.

• Check your insulation. Improvements can help keep the temperature of your home regulated, which will keep your energy bill lower all year around.

• Install CFL bulbs in your home. These light bulbs are more energy efficient and last much longer than regular light bulbs. If you are preparing to take the plunge and buying new bulbs for one room, then you should consider buying more bulbs at a cheaper price and install them around your entire home to maximize your savings!

• Try a clean and smart dishwasher. These appliances use less hot water, and can even be programmed to run during off-peak hours when they will use cheaper electricity.

• Consider a programmable thermostat. They help you save a lot of money by tweaking the temperature in your home—you can even set it up to turn off while you are at work or sleeping and turn back on when you get home!

• Install ceiling fans. What you may not know is that ceiling fans can be used effectively during both the summer and the winter. During the winter, your fan should circulate clockwise to push warm air down and trap it low to the ground where you can feel it. In the summer, run it counterclockwise to create cool downward airflow!

Are you hungry for some further reading? Check out our Bright Insights blog post about 5 DIY projects that are sure to increase your home’s energy efficiency!

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While landscaping during the fall can be a chore, the season can see your energy bill beginning to climb higher, compared to the rest of the year. However, there is something that can be done! There are several ways that you can adjust your landscaping habits to save energy around your home to make those beautiful autumn months better on your wallet.

Wind flow

Wind flow is important because it can block cold winds during the winter, thereby decreasing the amount of money you must spend on fall and winter heating costs. There are several ways that you can use wind flow, and other such techniques, to position the landscaping elements of your yard in such a way that your heating costs will decrease.

For instance, if you plant evergreen trees in your yard to block the northwest winter winds, you can cut your heating costs by up to 25 percent! Another great way to lower your heating bills is to ensure that the lawn on the south side of your home has open areas where snow can collect. Sunlight will reflect off this snow onto your house, providing a natural source of extra warmth!

Watering plants

The simple way to decrease your water usage is to water your plants in the morning, when evaporation rates are low. This will keep you from having to use extra water to gain the same results.

Leaf management

Leaves become quite troublesome during autumn, so having an efficient leaf management strategy is important to keep you from wasting extra time and energy on landscaping. Here are some best practices for dealing with fallen leaves in your yard:

• Rake up your leaves at least once per week, making an effort keep them away from your driveway and walkways. Not only can excessive leaves pile up and obscure these paths, they can also become dangerous slipping hazards when wet.

• A light amount of leaves can be mowed over, ideally with a mulching lawn mower, and left on your lawn. This is the simplest way to deal with leaves, but only works if you’re dealing with a small amount of leaves at a time. If you can stay on top of your mowing, then this will be an easy solution. However, if you are dealing with a large quantity of leaves, it is recommended that you mow your lawn with a mulching lawn mower that has a bagging attachment. This bagging attachment will collect the shredded leaves, which you can then use as mulch.

• Mulch is a natural source of fertilizer that provides nutrients to the rest of the plants on your property as the mulch decays. You can use this free source of mulch as fertilizer around your trees or in your garden. As a result, you’ll save the money that you would have normally spent on mulch or fertilizer at the hardware store!

• Lastly, you can compost your leaves; click here if you are interesting in learning how to do so properly!

Has all of this landscaping talk got you thinking about investing in some landscaping equipment? Make your purchase through Star Rewards and receive a cash-back bonus! Download the app on iOS or Android to start saving.

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Fixed rates and variable rates are two different methods by which provides can charge energy consumers. The type of rate that you choose will influence the amount that you pay on each energy bill during your contract.

Fixed Rate Electricity

With fixed rate electricity, like we offer at Star Energy Partners, you will “lock-in” the rate that you pay for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity—the base unit that electricity is measured in. This rate will remain unchanged throughout the duration of your contract, regardless of changes to the energy market. You can expect a contract of between 3 months and 3 years in length. There may also be an early termination fee or other charges that will fluctuate from month to month, but that will depend on the rest of your contract.

Variable Rate Electricity

On the other hand, a variable rate electricity plan will adjust according to the rest of the energy market. For example, if the average wholesale per kWh price of electricity drops, your rates will drop as well. However, if the rates increase, you’ll have to pay more for your electricity.

Which should you choose?

Fixed rate electricity is best for its predictability and security. Regardless of what happens in the energy industry, you can rest assured that you will be charged the same rate throughout the duration of your contract. This allows you as an energy consumer to easily budget around your energy bill.

However, variable rate electricity can also prove to be quite efficient, but it’s much more dependent on the energy market. Simply put, your costs will mirror that of the market: if things are going well, then your prices will be low; but if the market suffers, then you might wind up paying more on your electricity bills. Given that most consumers don’t pay close attention to the energy market, these fluctuations from month to month may come as a surprise to most—both happy and unhappy at times.  

One reason for caution when it comes to variable electricity rates is that some factors, like the 2013’s Polar Vortex, can cause prices to increase drastically during times of high demand. Events like this can make budgeting around your energy bill difficult and can even be crippling for a family living paycheck to paycheck.

Therefore, while variable rates can be beneficial for the consumer that constantly keeps an eye on the energy industry, the average consumer should choose a fixed rate for its simplicity and consistency.

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Before we get started, here are a few things you’ll need to know:

• The basic unit of measure is the watt.
• One thousand watts equals a kilowatt.
• Using a kilowatt (one thousand watts) of electricity in one hour constitutes a kilowatt-hour (kWh), which is the unit that your bill is measured and charged in.

The standard electric meter is a device that looks very similar to an analog clock. Your electric meter is actually powered in a similar way: as your home draws in electricity from the power grid, small gears slowly move the meter inside, powered by that same electricity. However, your electric meter differs from a regular clock in one important way. The rate of electricity consumption influences how quickly the gears will turn and therefore how much energy usage is recorded by your electric meter.

So how do you go about actually reading your electric meter? When one of the arms on the meter is pointed directly at a number, check the dial to the right: if the number is greater than zero, use the next higher number. This process ensures that you are rounding to the nearest kilowatt-hour. Similarly, if the arm lands between two numbers, round down to the lower number. Lastly, remember: when you read it, you should write down the numbers shown on the dials from right to left.

However, it is possible that your electric meter might be digital instead of analog. If this is the case, it is actually much easier to read your electric meter. Your digital electric meter will only show one number, and it will become larger and larger until it is reset. Therefore, to track your electricity usage from month to month, simply keep a record of what the meter reads at the beginning of each month. By subtracting your new number from the last month’s total, you’ll learn how much total energy you used throughout the month.

If you have any questions or are still uncertain about how to measure your electric meter, contact your local utility company for more information. Some utilities may even offer to send someone out to read your meter for you.

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Which devices or appliances do you have that use energy?

The first step for planning for your first utility bill is to take an inventory of all of the devices and services in your home that might influence the bill. Such services might include heating, electricity, air conditioning, Internet, cable, and cooking gas. Once you have catalogued all of these sources, it’s time to start adding up how much that will likely cost you.

Heat

The first thing to consider when calculating your heat is whether you are in an apartment or a house. If you are in an apartment you may not be charged for heat, since the cost is sometimes built into each month’s rent. However, if you are in a house, then things are more complicated. Since there are several different methods for heating a home, this will entirely depend on your situation. As a point of reference, the national average (when considering all energy sources) is roughly $160 a month, according to the Energy Services Group. When considering heating options, make sure you know the pricing situation before signing a lease.

Electricity

Usually, electricity bills are somewhere around $30–$50 a month. This can vary based on what types of electrical devices you have and how much you use them. Do you use energy efficient appliances and light bulbs? Do you have outside lights that are left on through the night? These things can drastically impact the amount of electricity you consume each month. It should also be mentioned that if you require air conditioning, expect your electricity bill to be higher in hot months.

Air Conditioning

Air conditioning is difficult to predict because its cost depends on how much you use it. In some areas, air conditioners are rarely needed, while in others they are used year round. For a point of reference, let’s look to national averages: in the US, the average household spends roughly $280 a year on air conditioning, which is about $24 a month. Of course, during the winter you can usually expect to spend little to no money on air conditioning, while during a very warm summer, you might pay $60–$70 a month.

Cooking Gas

Do you use a gas stove? If so, you are using natural gas—but the cost is generally fairly low at about $10 a month. This won’t break the bank, but you’ll want to remember this cost when calculating energy usage.

Non-Utilities to Consider:

The following items won’t be rolled into any of your utilities bills—water, sewage, gas—but they are common costs to keep in mind when budgeting for the month.

Internet

According to a study by the New American Foundation, you can expect to pay roughly $35 a month for Internet access at home. However, this can vary based on which area you are in, who your Internet provider is, and if you have any other add-ons rolled into your Internet cost.

Cable

If you have cable television, it is likely you will have it bundled with Internet. You can expect to pay about $90 a month for such a package, though this price can also be higher if you want more channels or access to premium video-steaming apps. Additionally, keep in mind the extra energy usage that comes from utilizing cable and Internet services, as that will have an effect on your overall electricity bill.

Add it up!

Once you have figured all of this out, add everything up. To use the numbers we provided as an example: if you lived in an apartment and used the average amount of electricity, air conditioning, cooking gas, and had an average Internet connection, here’s how everything would play out.

Heat ($0, rolled into rent)+Electricity ($40)+Air Conditioning ($24)+Cooking Gas ($10)+Internet ($35)+Cable ($90)=$199

If all this sounds like a lot of work, we’d be happy to help! Check out our website to get a quote on how much your gas and electric will cost you based on your location—or give us a call at 1-844-4MY-STAR to talk with a representative.

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In 2011: The electricity cost in Ohio was 11.2 cents per kilowatt-hour. The national average was roughly 12 cents per kilowatt-hour, and on a list of states by electricity cost, Ohio ranked at number thirty.

In September 2013 and 2014: Electricity prices have diminished slightly since 2011. The cost in Ohio was 9.25 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2013 and 9.38 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2014. The national average in 2013 was 10.43 cents per kilowatt-hour and 10.8 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2014.

But how do you quantify a kilowatt-hour? In 2012, the average American household’s electricity usage was roughly 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month. The average usage in Ohio during that same time was about 900 kilowatt-hours per month.

Why does the electricity cost and electricity usage vary so much from state to state? The differing habits of people in each region of the country results in a wide variety of usage patterns and energy prices. For example, electricity usage is much higher in the South due to the hot climate and high humidity; however, New England and the noncontiguous states of Alaska and Hawaii actually have higher overall electricity costs.

Why?

There are many things that go into determining the cost of electricity. As with all resources in our economy, supply and demand is certainly a factor. There are also the limitations of local infrastructure and the availability of natural gas and other resources used to produce electricity. Also, labor costs vary from state to state, which can influence the sticker price of electricity from region to region.

These reasons help to explain why states like Alaska and Hawaii have significantly higher electricity costs. These states have to pay to transport nearly everything in, which includes the means to produce electricity. This drives up prices and makes the entire process more expensive.

In the future, the availability of renewable energy and an increase in the number of transmission projects will likely play a big part into reducing electricity cost for the same reasons. With localized renewable energy resources widely available and streamlined infrastructure for transmission projects, electricity prices would not need to be as high as they are today.

Still have questions about electricity prices? Check out the FAQ section of the US Energy Information Administration to learn more!

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Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

HEAP is a federally funded program overseen by the Ohio Development Services Agency and designed to help low-income families meet the costs of their home heating bills. HEAP will help you by making a one-time payment based on your current electricity usage. This service is available for many PUCO-regulated customers.

Residents who qualify for HEAP can also take advantage of winter and summer crisis programs. These programs act similarly to HEAP:  A one-time payment will be made to assist customers with their heating or cooling bills, depending on the season.

You can apply by calling (800) 282–0880 or by writing to P.O. Box 1240, Columbus, Ohio 43266.

Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP Plus)

PIPP Plus is a program that allows eligible customers to make affordable monthly payments while reducing debt on their utilities account. Here’s how it works:  PIPP Plus payments are determined either by a percentage of household income or a predetermined minimum payment. If you qualify for PIPP Plus and pay your PIPP Plus payments on time, some of your debt and the remainder of your energy bill each month will be paid for.

You can learn more by calling (800) 282–0880.

Extended Payment Plans 

All PUCO-affiliated utility companies also offer extended payment plans for everyone, which enable you to make affordable payments while maintaining your service, should you fall behind on your payments.

• The one-third plan, also known as the Winter Heating Season Plan, is offered exclusively between November and April 15^th. The plan allows you to pay one-third of your account balance each month.
• There are also two other plans:  the one-sixth and one-ninth plans allow you to pay six or nine equal monthly payments on your previous balance, respectively, in addition to your current monthly bill.

To learn more about Energy Assistance Programs available to PUCO customers, visit the PUCO website.

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