“Although heating and cooling systems, and water heaters, typically make up the majority of a home’s energy consumption, other common household appliances can also draw significant amounts of electricity,” according to TVA documents used in a Cleveland Utilities public awareness campaign to help consumers understand what lies ahead.
The information was presented earlier to the Cleveland Daily Banner by a visiting TVA delegation touring news media outlets as part of a community awareness swing through TVA’s service territory, much of which includes Southeast Tennessee.
Tom Wheeler, CU general manager, accompanied the TVA group on the visit to help explain what public utilities customers in the area can expect.
As published in three previous Banner articles related to the new time-of-use rates, Wheeler accents the importance of being proactive; at least, for those consumers who want a hand in controlling increases in their monthly bills. The longtime utility administrator said it’s a simple formula.
“If people don’t react, they will see their bills get higher,” he cautioned.
Monthly billings (amounts) will depend on when customers use the majority of their household energy once the time-of-use rates take full effect. Power used during peak periods will be more expensive.
The Winter Peak Period is defined as December through March and time of day will be 5 to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday. The Summer Peak Period is June through September and time of day is 1 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. Weekends and federal holidays are considered off peak.
Energy used in households during these time periods will be more expensive than off-peak times.
But what about the appliances themselves? Which cost more to use? Based on information provided through TVA, the following cost estimates based on an average price per kilowatt-hour of electricity will help answer the question:
- Clothes dryer, four loads per week, $3.12 per month.
- Clothes washer, four loads per week, $2.85 per month.
- Dishwasher, five loads per week, $4.74 per month.
- Computer, four hours per day, $1.62 per month.
- LCD TV, four hours per day, $2.01 per month.
- Freezer, 24 hours per day, $3.27 per month.
- Refrigerator, 24 hours per day, $5.28 per month.
- Range, one hour per day, $2.37 per month.
- Oven, one hour per day, $5.43 per month.
- Microwave, 15 minutes per day, $0.90 per month.
- Toaster, six minutes per day, $0.27 per month.
- Coffee maker, 15 minutes per day, $0.90 per month.
- Hair dryer, 10 minutes per day, $0.27 per month.
- Space heater, three hours per day, $10.65 per month.
On a related note, TVA reports the following percentages of energy use coming out of the average household within the agency’s territory: Kitchen, 21 percent; heating and cooling, 38 percent; water heating, 20 percent; laundry, 6 percent; outlets, 9 percent; lighting, 4 percent; and “other,” 2 percent.
The household percentages reflect an annual breakdown for a typical, all-electric home. Percentages will vary based on the local climate, a home’s weatherization and in-house energy-use habits.
As has been previously reported, programs offered by TVA and Cleveland Utilities can help consumers improve their energy-use efficiency. One opportunity already exists — an in-home, free-of-charge energy evaluation that could potentially save homeowners as much as 20 percent on their bills when they make suggested improvements.
More information about the in-home energy audits may be obtained by visiting the website www.energyright.com.
“TVA and our local power companies (Cleveland Utilities and Volunteer Energy Cooperative) have a long history of serving the people of our region,” said John Trawick, senior vice president for TVA Commercial Operations and Pricing. “Our mission to provide low-cost, reliable power is as important today as it was when we began making electricity nearly 80 years ago.”
Trawick added, “By working together, we all can help reduce peak demand and keep electricity prices affordable for years to come.”
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(Editor’s Note: What is this in-home energy evaluation, how does it work, who is eligible and how do CU customers sign up for it? A few answers will be provided in the Monday, May 2, edition of the Cleveland Daily Banner.)
