How much energy does the average home use? Average WFEC residential members use approx. 1,300 kilowatt hours or energy monthly. Calculate your home’s energy use by using our Energy Calculator and Appliance Calculator.

Will I be compensated for my power being out? No. For reasons that can be technical, physical, or acts of God, WFEC cannot guarantee uninterrupted energy to your home or business.  Events within and outside our control will prevent us from always having power at your location. While the power is out, no electricity is being consumed, so your meter does not register any consumption for billing. Upon restoration, none of your appliances will consume more energy than if the power had never been out. If you, or any member of your household, have a condition that requires electric power, it is your responsibility to have a back-up plan. That plan may include moving to another location where power is available for your use. Remember that in a time of catastrophic loss of electric power such as during a hurricane, there may be no electricity flowing anywhere within 100 miles.

Why does WFEC recommend not using heat-generating appliances during the hottest part of the day in the summer? Are rates higher during the day than at other times? No, rates do not change during the day. WFEC recommends using heat-generating appliances during the coolest part of the day (early morning/late evening) so that they don’t compete with your air conditioning system. Appliances like stoves, dishwashers and light bulbs generate heat and can compete with your air conditioner to keep the indoor air from staying cool.

Here are some tips for you to keep your home cooler by using appliances wisely:

• Avoid baking or broiling on hot days. Use the stovetop to heat food quickly. Keep lids on the pots to hold heat in.
• Use your microwave oven to cook whenever possible. Choose meals that don’t require cooking – sandwiches, salads, chilled soups, or grill outdoors.
• Wash clothes and run the dishwasher after the sun goes down. Washers, dryers and dishwashers produce humidity, which can make the air inside your home feel uncomfortable. When you use them, use cool water instead of warm.
• Trade your incandescent light bulbs, which burn hot, for energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs, which produce little heat.
• Turn off TV sets and lamps whenever you’re not using them. They create heat when in use. Unplug them if you’re leaving the house. Electric appliances use electricity when they’re turned off if they’re still plugged in. This can add up to $150 to your electric bill annually. Unplug items that are not used frequently.
• Keep the temperature of your refrigerator between 38 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and the freezer at about 5 degrees. Refrigerators that run inefficiently emit more heat.
• Defrost your freezer before ice builds up in it. Ice-laden freezer walls make the unit work inefficiently.
• Run your kitchen exhaust fan whenever you cook in the summer, and turn on the bathroom fan about 15 minutes before you hop in the shower. This helps rid the house of humid air.