By: Electric League of Arizona
If you’ve experienced at least one power outage this summer, it’s no surprise! We all share electricity in a community and at home. We’re tied to our utilities grid that supplies power to millions of people in our city. With the help of Electric League of Arizona, you can prevent your electrical system from overloading and causing inconvenient and sometimes dangerous power outages.
Reduce phantom or vampire energy usage
Phantom or vampire energy occurs when electrical power is being drawn into home appliances and electronic devices that are plugged in but not in use such as televisions, laptops, gaming system, toaster ovens, etc. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimates that phantom/vampire energy costs up to $200 a year per household. A sure way to reduce this energy drain is to unplug items that are not in use. This is easy to forget though, so an easy alternative is to invest in an Advanced Power Strip (APS). This smart device has automatic shutoff timers, activity monitoring and even remote-control access.
Don’t run several large appliances during peak energy demand
During this heat wave, it’s guaranteed your air conditioner is running almost nonstop. It’s a large appliance accounting for 40% of your electricity costs in the summer. Running other large appliances like washing machines, dryers and stoves at the same time can cause your circuit breaker to trip, shutting off electricity, especially when most people use electricity during the same times of the day. For this reason, electric utility companies created special rate plans to incentivize customers to use less electricity during the busiest hours of the day when many people are just arriving home from school or work. So, waiting to do laundry until the late evening or weekends can save you substantially on your electric bills and avoid power outages with the right electric rate plan.
Invest in a whole home surge protector
You may have heard of whole home surge protectors and wonder what the features are and if it’s a worthwhile investment for your home. According to data from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, power surges and lightning damage caused about $1 billion in insured losses in the U.S. in 2011. A plug-in surge protector only shields that one device; a whole house surge protector guards all circuits. It’s important to have home surge protection installed to safeguard all of your sensitive electrical appliances and expensive electronic devices from power spikes. Make sure it is a trusted product used by industry contractors. The device’s response time to surges and joule ratings are important, as well as its warranty, if something is damaged. Electric League of Arizona can refer licensed, bonded and insured electricians to install this equipment.
Make sure regular power outages aren’t a larger issue
Is your home experiencing regular power outages that are not utility-related? A circuit breaker “trips” to cut off electrical flow and prevent overheating. This can be caused by an overloaded circuit, short circuit or ground fault. Do your lights flicker or spark? Are outlets hot to the touch? Are there signs of burned or overheated components in the electrical panel? If so, you should call a qualified electrician. Overheated components might cause an electrical fire, so find out the root cause of the electrical failure.
Electric League of Arizona recommends regular electrical maintenance, including an annual Electrical Panel Inspection, and a Whole Home Electrical Safety Inspection completed by a licensed expert electrician every fifth year. It is also highly suggested that new homeowners have a whole home electrical safety inspection completed prior to moving, preferably before signing their contract to buy the home. These thorough inspections ensure the main electrical components of the home are working properly such as the electrical panel box and that unseen dangers such as faulty wiring behind walls and ceilings is found and fixed.
We urge you to be safe this summer, but also stay cool and enjoy your home and family time!
Organizations like Electric League of Arizona put you in contact with licensed, bonded and insured contractors for a wide variety of home services such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing, solar, appliances, roofing and window treatments. As a nonprofit, they’ve been around since 1985 just for Arizona homeowners, offering consumer advocacy and education about the energy and electrical industries.
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