Understanding Energy Usage and the Tools We Offer
Energy, used in our modern world every day, seems to be the one thing we think about the least. It’s something needed to power our homes and businesses, and is used in all the technologies that make our lives easier. Understanding how we use energy is essential for budgeting, reducing waste, and embracing sustainability.
The first step is assessing your energy consumption. Determine whether your home or business primarily relies on electricity, gas, or a combination of both.
Reviewing your current Santee Cooper bill , particularly the graph provided on the left side, offers valuable insights into your historical energy usage patterns. For traditional customers who receive a paper bill, each bar shows how many kilowatt hours (kwh) of electricity you use each month.
For customers utilizing our MEL self-service app , a more detailed breakdown of energy usage in near real time is available, allowing for a deeper understanding of your energy consumption patterns.
The next step is to understand what equipment and appliances use the most energy in your home or business.
The largest energy users in typical homes and small businesses are:
Heating and cooling equipment: Heating and colling can account for a significant part of your overall bill. If you have an all-electric system, it takes electricity to cool your home during the summer and heat it in the winter. These systems rely on your thermostats to regulate their operation, based on your preferred comfort settings.
Water heating equipment: This equipment can rank as the second-largest energy user in your household. In an all-electric system, your water heater intermittently cycles on and off throughout the day to maintain the temperature you’ve selected for your water.
Appliances: The third-largest energy users are your appliances. These include your refrigerator, clothes washer and dryer, cooktop and oven, and dishwasher. Using these appliances throughout the day can lead to varying levels of energy usage for your home.
Santee Cooper provides numerous tools and services aimed at assisting you in understanding your energy usage. These resources empower you to make both minor and major adjustments, which aid in budgeting and waste reduction practices. Reach out to us today at Customercare@santeecooper.com to learn more about these valuable offerings.
For more than 90 years, Santee Cooper has been serving the people of South Carolina. The utility is South Carolina’s largest power provider and the ultimate source of electricity for 2 million people across the state. Through its affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible electricity and water services, and through innovative partnerships and initiatives that attract and retain industry and jobs, Santee Cooper helps power South Carolina. To learn more, visit www.santeecooper.com and follow #PoweringSC on social media.