20 million American households are behind an average of $788 on their utility bills

“I expect a tsunami of shutoffs,” Jean Su, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, told Bloomberg.

While energy prices decreased 6.4% in March 2023 year-over year, electricity prices in particular rose 10.2% in April year-over-year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

According to Mark Wolfe, executive director of NEADA, the country is “heading towards a period of unaffordable energy prices.” Wolfe called on Congress to act to increase funding to offset increasing prices.

But if you can’t wait on lawmakers for relief, there are small things you can do to lower your energy bill. Every bit counts.

LED lighting

Compared to big household appliances, light bulbs don’t seem like a big deal in terms of energy consumption. But it all adds up.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, lighting accounts for approximately 15% of an average household’s electricity use.

To lower the lighting portion of your electricity bill, consider LED bulbs. They consume up to 90% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and can last up to 25 times longer.

The Department of Energy says by switching to LED lighting, the average household can save about $225 in energy costs per year.

That said, LED bulbs tend to be more expensive to buy than incandescent bulbs. To get the greatest energy savings, look for LED bulbs that are ENERGY STAR-rated.

Seal and insulate

It’s going to be an expensive winter according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The agency predicts that electric heating costs for homeowners will increase 10%, averaging $1,359 for the 2022/2023 season.