Clocks moved back one hour on Sunday, and for many families the return home in the late afternoon now happens after sunset. Lights are turned on earlier, and with the drop in temperatures, heating is also used. But to what extent can these changes be reflected in the electricity bill?
The answer depends on each family’s habits: if lighting stays on for longer, consumption can increase. With the approach of the cold months, the use of electric heating can add heft to the bill. For most families, it is not the clock adjustment that makes electricity more expensive, but the use of appliances. The exception is tri-hourly tariffs, where entering the winter period places peak hours at the start of the evening, coinciding with the return home.
A few days before World Savings Day, observed on October 31, Bling explains where additional consumption can arise at this time of year and presents ways to limit its impact on the bill.
- More time with the lights on: what weighs on the bill?
With the nightfall earlier, the return home can happen already without natural light, prolonging the use of artificial lighting. The impact on the bill depends on the wattage of the lamps, the number of light points that are on, and the duration of use. In the most frequented rooms, replacing less efficient bulbs with LEDs can help limit this consumption. It is also worth reviewing exterior lighting timers, adjusting them to real needs, and favoring the lighting of the area being used rather than keeping the entire room lit.
- Heating deserves special attention
The switch to the winter time also coincides with the approach of the colder months, when heating takes more space in the family routine. In homes that rely on electric equipment, this use can be reflected in an increase in the bill. Adjusting operating times to when people are at home, heating only the rooms used, and avoiding heat losses through doors and windows are ways to maintain comfort and control spending.
- Producing energy at home to reduce dependence on the grid
Installing solar panels allows you to produce part of the electricity consumed at home, reducing the need to purchase energy from the grid. Contrary to a common idea, solar production is not limited to the summer months. Although it is lower in winter, when days are shorter, it remains throughout the year: photovoltaic panels capture solar radiation even on cloudy days, contributing to savings in any season. Bling recommends that the installation be defined based on the characteristics of the home and the family’s consumption habits, to tailor production to their needs and maximize the use of the energy generated.
- Storing solar energy can be the next step
With the earlier night, a larger portion of the household’s consumption takes place after sunset, when the panels are no longer producing. This is where the battery becomes relevant: the solar energy that is not consumed during the day is stored to be used in the late afternoon and at night, when lights are switched on, dinner is being prepared, or heating is used. In this way, it is possible to make a greater share of solar production usable and reduce reliance on the grid. In months of lower production, the energy available for storage is also lower. Therefore, battery capacity should be defined based on the installation’s production and the family’s consumption habits throughout the year.
The time change, thus, is an opportunity to review home energy management before the colder months, both through consumption habits and solutions that allow taking advantage of solar production. For families considering taking this step, Bling Energy offers a subscription model that allows installing solar panels, a battery, an electric car charger, and also a backup system, without initial investment, through a fixed monthly fee. The solution is sized according to the energy needs of each home and each family’s consumption habits, with the company responsible for installation and ensuring the proper functioning of the system throughout the contract.
