In 2023, the demand for electricity is higher than ever all over the United States. Without our power plants, power lines, and electrical providers, we would constantly be in the dark, unable to accomplish anything in our increasingly online world. For many people, as the demand for electricity rises, so do their electricity bills. This makes sense, because average electricity rates in each state are very dependent on average electricity consumption from each customer. Below, we discuss everything you need to know about the cost of electricity in Louisiana, including average Louisiana electricity rates, costs, consumption, production, and so much more.
Lombardi Electric is an electrical service company based in Alexandria, Louisiana. We provide the best residential, commercial, and industrial electrical services in the Alexandria area. Our Alexandria solar panel installers help Louisiana residents make the switch from electric to solar energy so they can save money and the planet too. Call us at 318-545-7575 to speak with one of our experienced electricians today.
Electric Bills: How They’re Calculated and What They Cover
The price on your monthly electric bill will depend on how much electricity you use in a given month as well as your electric rate. Electric rates tend to fluctuate based on the time of year; they’re generally highest in the summer and winter. So it’s very common for the average person’s electric bill to change on a monthly basis, especially in southern states, where it’s blazing hot in the summer and the air conditioning is blasting.
In order to calculate the price of your electric bill, all you would have to do is multiply your average monthly electricity consumption by the average electricity rate in your state. In Louisiana, the average residential electricity rate is about 12¢ per kWh (kilowatt hour). So if your average monthly electricity consumption was 1,200 kWh and you multiplied this by an average rate of 12¢, your electric bill would be $144.
Not only are customers paying the electricity provider for their share of electricity on a monthly basis, but they’re also paying for the cost to run, maintain, and/or repair the local electrical grid. If your state or local area also has public benefit funds for things like energy efficiency and renewable energy, then a small portion of your electric bill will go towards this too. Retail energy providers include electrical grid function and maintenance and renewable energy costs in fixed charges. But the rest of a customer’s monthly electric bill will be variable charges, which is based on how much electricity is used.
So the only ways to lower electricity prices on a monthly basis are to use less electricity or reduce the cost of electricity through renewable energy.
What is the Average Monthly Cost of Electricity in Louisiana?
According to data from Find Energy, residential customers in Louisiana spend an average of $157.16 per month on electricity which adds up to nearly $1,885 per customer annually.
Quick Facts About Electricity and Energy in Louisiana
- Louisiana’s population sits around 4,624,000 people, and together, those people consume 95,707,305 MWh (megawatt hour) of electricity annually. This equals about 20.7 MWh per capita.
- Louisiana ranks 14th in the nation for highest energy consumption, and 3rd highest in the nation for energy consumption per capita.
- Total electricity production in Louisiana is nearly 102,800,000 MWh annually, which is 22.23 MWh per capita.
- The annual electricity consumption in Louisiana creates 37,652,630,844 kg of CO2 emissions, which equals 8,142.79 kg per capita.
- Entergy Louisiana produces the most electricity in the state compared to all other electric providers; it produces 44,422,170.17 MWh of electricity for nearly 1 million Louisiana residents.
- Louisiana generates 70,535,832.49 MWh of natural gas annually, making the state rank 5th in the nation for total natural gas generation.
- Louisiana is ranked as the 11th worst state in the country for its production of non-renewable energy sources.
How to Save Money on Your Electricity Bill
If you’re tired of having such a high electric bill every month, especially during the heat of the summer, there’s hope. There are ways to simultaneously decrease your electricity usage as well as the amount of money coming out of your bank account just to keep the lights on.
Here’s how to save on electric bill:
Go Solar
You saw some of the scary statistics above; the vast majority of Louisiana’s energy production comes from non-renewable sources, and it’s creating a ton of CO2 emissions, literally. The benefits of solar energy are many. Solar energy can keep your lights on, save you money on energy bills, and save the planet too. The cost to switch from electric to solar energy can be overwhelming, but it’s getting more and more affordable every year. Not only that, but there are countless state and federal incentives, such as tax credits, that can make the switch to solar more affordable.
If you’re interested in buying solar panels in Alexandria, the Alexandria electricians at Lombardi Electric can help you every step of the way, from purchasing to installing to repairing. Get a free solar quote from us here.
Turn Off the A/C When You’re Not Using It
The summers only seem to be getting hotter and more humid in Louisiana. That means all 4.6 million of us are blasting the A/C in the summer, and running up our bills in the process. So if you’re trying to save a few bucks, start with turning off your A/C when you’re not using it. There’s no need to blast the cool air from 9 to 5 when you’re at work. Doing just this could lead to noticeable savings, especially in the summertime.
Use a Smart Thermostat
If you’re tired of manually messing with your home’s thermostat everyday to reap those energy benefits, allow a smart device to do it for you. There are countless home automation devices on the market now, all designed to make our lives easier and even save money on energy costs. One of many home automation devices that can do this are smart thermostats, which you can program via an app on your phone to lower or raise your home temp at certain times.
For example, you can program your thermostat to raise your home temperature to 78 degrees while you’re at work, and then lower the temp back down to 75 degrees right before you get home. As explained previously, this simple change can save you a fortune on A/C and heating costs every year.
Our Alexandria home automation service experts can help!
Clean A/C Vents and Units
Your air conditioner is not going to work efficiently if it’s not regularly maintained. As a result, you may notice high electric bills month after month, even if you are being conservative with your A/C temp. Be sure to clean and/or replace your A/C filters every once in a while, which will promote the best air flow in your home. Replacing dirty filters could reduce A/C energy consumption by as much as 15%.
Check Home Insulation
If your home has poor insulation, this means that cool air from your A/C can escape through cracks, and hot air can seep in. So essentially, you’re wasting hundreds of dollars per month on air conditioning just because your home has poor insulation.
There are a couple easy ways to improve insulation in your home: weather-stripping and caulking, both of which can seal various cracks and openings which could be responsible for letting cool, expensive air out of your home.
Switch To Energy Star Appliances
Energy Star appliances are known for saving both money and energy on an annual basis. In fact, these appliances meet all the energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Buying all new appliances is expensive right off the bat, but think of it as investing in high quality pieces of equipment that will not only save you money on future Alexandria solar panel repair and maintenance services, but will save you money on your monthly electric bills as well. Many times, one of the main ways to save money in this economy is to spend money on the right appliances and products.
Call Lombardi Electric Today
Alexandria electricians at Lombardi Electric specialize in commercial, residential, and industrial electrical work. Not only that, but we help our customers save money on ever-rising electricity rates and prices in Louisiana by selling and installing solar panels. Call us today at 318-545-7575 for all of your electrical needs.
