Conservation Tips

Brown County REA aims to provide the best possible electric service to all within our service area at the lowest price consistent with the highest standard of customer service. At the same time we promote the wise and beneficial use of electricity, appliances and equipment in the home, farm or business.

The first step to better energy management is understanding how your home and habits affect your bill. We are proud to be your electric service provider and hope this information is helpful.

How to estimate energy use and cost

STEP 1 - Figure cost/kWh

Since the cost of electricity is determined by the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) used during the billing cycle, the first step is to determine your average cost per kilowatt-hour.

STEP 2 - Figure Wattage

Since the wattage of an appliance (equipment) determines the electrical usage per hour, the second step is to determine the wattage.

The wattage of an appliance is found on the serial plate. But it is possible that the electrical requirements will be expressed in volts and amps, rather than watts. If so, multiply volts times amps to obtain wattage.

Example of serial plate

STEP 3 - Figure Cost/Appliance

 Use the formula shown in the following example to estimate usage and cost.

EXAMPLE: An incandescent light bulb uses 100 watts and is left on 15 hours. How many kWhs are used and what does it cost you?

Your cost = 1.5 x $.095 = $.1425 or 14.25 cents.

TIP: If you change that light bulb to an equivalent LED bulb,
which uses 10 watts, your cost drops to 1.4 cents to operate for 15 hours.

STEP 4 - Find your daily cost of electricity 

To find your daily cost of electricity, divide your bill by the number of days in the month.

You can take control of your electricity expenses with efficient habits and smart decisions but there are some factors beyond your control which can dramatically affect energy consumption:

Season - Electric bills will typically jump in the summer due to air conditioner use. You may see similar increases in the winter if you heat with electricity. Electric bills tend to be lower in the spring and fall when temperatures are milder.

"Phantom" load - When you turn something off that doesn't necessarily mean it has stopped using electricity. Many electronics have a standby mode which draws an electric current even while turned off. Known as "phantom" loads, they can add up quickly. Unplug all electronics which display a clock or light when turned off, or use a smart power strip to limit phantom loads.

Vintage - Older appliances and electronic devices often draw more current than newer ones. While it can be difficult to invest in new appliances or electronic devices when you have reliable older models, the cost savings from reduced energy use can, in some cases, recoup the cost of an upgrade.

Visit energywisemn.com for more energy saving tips.