In Nigeria, electrical energy is one of the forms of energy mostly in demand due to the vital role it plays in the country’s economic development.
According to Energypedia, “Nigeria is one of the most underpowered countries in the world, with actual consumption 80 per cent below expectations based on current population and income levels.”
A few weeks ago, the Federal Government announced a hike in electricity tariff to be mediated by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, adding that those affected would pay N225 per kilowatt-hour, up from the previous rate of N68/kWh, representing about 240 per cent increase.
The government stated that the decision took effect on April 3, 2024, adding that customers who belong to the Band A category would enjoy up to 20 hours of power supply daily.
However, for many domestic users who self-generate electricity or depend on public sources, this increase in tariff will necessitate an adjustment in behaviour and lifestyle which will ensure that they conserve more electricity, lessen their use of fuels, and reduce their utility bills.
Here are some ways to do so.
Don’t leave appliances on standby
An electrical engineer, Dare Adebayo, in an interview with our correspondent, pointed out that one of the reasons some householders accrue high energy utility bills is due to the energy that accumulates from heavy appliances that are left on.
“When you leave cooling units for hours, along with other appliances like printers, WiFi routers, light bulbs, video games, TV, and washing machines, the electric units start to count very high. Plug the items you use regularly into a power strip, so you can easily switch them all off at once.
“So, if you switch off the power point rather than leave the appliances on standby, you would save most of the energy. Switch off your equipment overnight or when you’re away. In the case of laptops, they have energy-saving settings that will turn the screen off after a period of inactivity,” Adebayo added.
Use energy-efficient lighting
Adebayo also advised that householders purchase energy-saving light bulbs which would consume less energy.
According to him, energy-efficient globes could save up to 80 per cent off lighting costs.
“This is because LED bulbs use less power and last longer. Even if you decide to leave some major security light bulbs on at night, you will still spend less money and time replacing them,” he stated.
Limit use of air conditioners
Adebayo explained that it is more energy-conserving for people to avoid the constant running of air conditioners which he said could reduce their lifespan.
“Air conditioners are like refrigerators; they are designed to maintain a set temperature. Once they reach the desired coolness, they shut off until the temperature rises again. This works to save energy and reduce wear and tear on the appliance, otherwise, you can reduce their lifespan if you use them for extended hours every day,” he advised.
On his part, an environmentalist, Gboyega Igbamerun, noted that people should alternate the use of air conditioners with natural air in their homes as it was better.
“Open the windows and allow fresh air to flow into the house and make sure there is cross ventilation. It is better than being perpetually dependent on the air conditioner,” he added.
Don’t waste water
Igbamerun noted that in many Nigerian homes where water is dependent on pumping a borehole using electricity, wasting water translates into wasting energy.
“You will find some homes where the taps in the kitchen or bathroom are left to run and even overflow due to carelessness. If they use electricity to pump water, this will incur huge utility bills. So proper water management must be observed and the energy will be conserved,” he said.
Regulate use of cloth dryers
It is better to wait until your machine is full before beginning a washing cycle, Igbamerun advised.
“It is also important to limit your use of clothes dryers. They use lots of energy. Hang clothes outside to dry or use a fan to help dry them indoors, ” he added.
Manage kitchen gadgets
Adebayo pointed out that most homes that accumulate huge utility bills have certain appliances in their kitchen which are responsible for their high energy use.
He said, “If you walk into some kitchen, you can easily deduce why they have high electricity bills. Take, for instance, their refrigerator, if it’s not properly closed or they have a freezer in addition to the fridge, which is always on, they would be adding to the energy use.
“Also, microwaves use much less energy than an electric oven, so if you use an electric oven you will be using up a huge amount of energy.”
Explore alternatives
Considering alternative sources of energy can also help reduce your utility bill.
“You can use natural light if you need to use a light bulb and you can use solar energy to reduce the amount of energy you consume. These changes are environmentally safer and leave less carbon footprints,” Igbamerun added.
