Here are some of the most common culprits for rising electricity bills. Be sure to check out our additional energy saving tips here. 


If the weather is colder or hotter than it was during your last billing period, chances are you are using more heat or air conditioning. Both of these increase your energy consumption because systems need to work harder just to keep up. Even for customers who don't use the A/C, motors and fans run more frequently. During extreme temperatures, the heating and cooling systems continue to operate periodically, even when the temperatures are adjusted to vacation mode.

The Weather Network Historical Data

Environment Canada Daily Data Report

Seasonal Appliances

Pools, hot tubs, air conditioning, space heaters, dehumidifiers, holiday lights all increase your electricity usage. To reduce the impact on your bill,  use these items during off-peak hours, when electricity is the lowest price.

Phantom Power

If you see little lights glowing on your electronics, even when they are turned off, it means that they are still drawing power. All that "phantom power" can add up. Consider using power bars that will allow you to fully turn off electronics when you aren't using them.

New Appliances

Your electricity bill goes up with every appliance you add to your household. Don't forget that the bigger the screen on your television, the more electricity it uses. To reduce the impact and save money, look for the ENERGY STAR® logo when you buy new appliances and entertainment devices.

Household Numbers

New babies, houseguests or adult children returning home all mean more laundry, lights, appliances, dishes and showers. The increased usage can lead to an increase in your electricity bill.

Leaking Taps

If your hot water taps are leaking they will drive up your electricity bill, if you have an electric water heater..

On-Peak Usage

Under of Time-of-Use pricing, the amount you pay for electricity depends on the time of day and day of week that you use it. View your electricity usage online to see when you are using the most electricity. Perhaps you can shift some activities to lower peak times, such as running the dishwasher after 7 p.m. or doing laundry on weekends when rates are lowest. Check out our Energy Conservation section for programs and tips to help reduce your energy consumption.

The Energy+ team can offer information and advice to help customers conserve electricity, and we thank our customers for doing their part.