Electricity Bill Jumps in the Hot Season: Adjust These First
Your electricity bill often jumps in the hot season, mostly because of air conditioning. In April and May, many households open the electricity bill and get a shock, sometimes double the month before. The main reasons: the air conditioner runs longer, and household electricity in Vietnam is priced on a tiered scale.
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Why a little more use costs a lot more
For household power, the first block of kWh is billed at a low rate. Use more and each higher block costs more per kWh. So when total use goes up, the last kWh you use are the most expensive ones. Cutting some of those shows up clearly on the bill.
The air conditioner comes first
At home, the air conditioner is usually the biggest power user in hot weather. What to do:
- Set it to 26–28°C instead of 18–20°C. Add a fan to move the air and it still feels cool.
- Clean the filter roughly every 2 to 4 weeks. A dusty filter makes the unit run longer to cool the room.
- Keep the door closed. In west-facing rooms, draw thick curtains from midday.
- If the unit is old, non-inverter and runs many hours a day, consider replacing it. Inverter units use less power when running for long stretches.
Other appliances
Fridge. Leave about 10 cm between it and the wall so heat can escape. Do not put hot food straight in. Close the door as soon as you have what you need.
Electric water heater. Many homes do not need it in the hot season. If you use it, switch it on a few minutes before your shower and turn it off after, instead of leaving it on all day.
Washing machine, rice cooker. Run full loads only. Unplug the rice cooker when you do not need it to keep rice warm for long.
Check your usage every week
Do not wait until the end of the month. Your local power company’s customer app usually shows daily usage. Or take a photo of the meter every Sunday and compare it with the week before. If one week jumps, you know right away.
You do not have to suffer through the heat. Fixing the points above is enough to make the bill lighter.
This month, try these changes and compare your electricity bill with last month. Learn more about air conditioning, or read our guide to choosing LED bulbs.