IDT Energy Savings

ESCOs Help Consumers Save

ESCO stands for “Energy Service Company.” When the power supply utility companies in New York were deregulated, ESCOs, including IDT Energy, came into being. Competition was introduced into an area which was essentially populated with monopolies which had government protection as well as regulation.

With deregulation came the competition which allowed prices, and services to bring in customers, hopefully encouraging the quality of services provided as well as helping to keep costs competitive.

Under this system energy service is divided into two parts, the supply of energy and its delivery. IDT Energy offers a “Switch and Save” program which allows consumers to choose IDT Energy as their supplier, while their local utility, such as Con Edison, remains in charge of power delivery.

Consumers are not compelled to switch to an ESCO, but in many cases, as when switching to IDT Energy, it is possible to save money on the monthly bill for electricity and natural gas.

Have you ever thought about how important electricity is in the world we live? In today’s world we almost take electricity for granted, but if you try and imagine what the world would be like without electricity, you would be startled to know that life as we know it today would be virtually impossible. Another astounding fact is that it has not even been 150 years since Thomas Edison created the first practical electric light bulb in 1879.

IDT Energy is one place where New Yorkers go to get their electricity, helping to power today’s lifestyles.

IDT Energy understands that in the summer it is possible to spend much more on electricity than at other times of the year. In New York especially there is a great need to run air conditioning units day and night, trying to keep as cool as possible during the humid and hot summers which New york is so famous for. IDT Energy presents here some tips to keeping things cool while still using less electricity.

1.    Come the evening it is often cool enough to turn of the a/c and turn on a fan. Let the cooler air blow on you to cool you down. Try both ceiling fans and floor based fans. They use a fraction of the electricity that air conditioners use, and may be just the thing to keep you comfortable.

2.    Banish hot air. Use exhaust fans in the kitchen to get that extra hot air out of the house. If there is no exhaust fan, just put a floor fan in the kitchen and let it blow while you are cooking. It will help keep the cook cool while blowing the hot air out of the kitchen.

Summertime is here and IDT Energy is making it possible for its customers to stay cool even on the hottest days by supplying the electricity that is needed to power the huge number of air conditioning units which are keeping people cool through-out New York City.

Because of the heat and humidity which characterizes a typical New York city summer, air conditioners have a hard time running efficiently, but here are a few steps people can take to get the best out of their air conditioners.

1.    Don’t meddle with the thermostat.  Set your thermostat to 78 degrees, and don’t be tempted to lower it in order to cool the house down faster. It won’t help. If anything, raise the thermostat a few degrees when you leave the house. Even better, get a programmable thermostat and only have the a/c turn on when you are about to come home.

2.    Draw the curtains during the day so the hot sun’s rays don’t enter the house. Especially if no one is home and there is no need for natural light to see by, closed curtains can help keep your home much cooler.

More tips next time.

At IDT Energy we are always looking for ways for our customers to save more: more energy and more money on their utility bills. One great way to realize a lot of savings is by participating in the “New York Great Appliance Swap Out.” the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is making a special effort this Earth Day to encourage New Yorkers to “Buy Green to Save Green.”

This initiative has already provided almost $13.6 million in help to over 125,000 New York residents to reduce their energy expenses. There is now $3.2 million available to New Yorkers who are interested in replacing their old, energy wasting appliances with models which are brand new, energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

The Swap-Out works by giving consumers up to $555 as a rebate towards their purchase of high efficiency refrigerators, freezers, washing machines and dishwashers. Funding is made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA.) All funds will be allocated by the end of the year, and consumers can keep track of how much funding still remains by going to www.NYApplianceSwapOut.com.

“New Yorkers can honor Earth Day well past April 22nd by participating in the Great Appliance Swap Out,” said Francis J. Murray, Jr., President and CEO of NYSERDA.

“This program gives consumers the opportunity to replace their old, inefficient appliances with energy-efficient models that will help reduce our carbon footprint, all with the added benefit of a cash rebate. High efficiency appliances conserve energy, lower energy costs, and lessen the impact energy can have on the environment.”

In our last post IDT Energy discussed ways to get the heat into your house in a cost saving manner, such as exposing your home to daytime sunshine, lowering your thermostat and installing a programmable thermostat.

Here are some ideas on how to keep the heat you’ve paid so dearly for to stay inside where it belongs:

• When is the last time you checked the insulation in your attic? How about your ceilings, exterior walls, basement walls, crawl spaces and floors? Make sure the insulation is adequate for the climate that you live in. New York can have extremely harsh winters, and good insulation can make a huge difference in your heating costs.
• Check for air leaks around windows and doors, then use caulk and weather stripping to seal them.
• Be sure to replace the filters on your furnace regularly to keep the warm air flowing into your house efficiently.
• IDT Energy wishes you and your family a wonderful warm winter in New York.

Winter in New York is always wonderful. However it can be a challenge to stay warm and cozy without breaking the bank. IDT Energy has some helpful tips to maintain a comfortable and affordable New York winter.

When considering how to control heating costs, its best to take the broad view of the entire house:

• •    During the day the sun is in the south. By keeping the south facing curtains and drapes open, the sun will shine in and help keep your house warm. Don’t forget to close the drapes at night to keep out the cold chill that can come into the house through the glass.
• •    Consider turning down your thermostat a bit. Try to maintain comfort at a lower temperature.
• •    Even better than merely turning down your thermostat, install a programmable thermostat. This handy device can raise the temperature in your home when you are there; lower it when you’re not; and maintain another temperature when you are asleep, all completely automatically. You can actually reduce your heating bill by 10% by just lowering the temperature on your thermostat from 72 degrees down to 65 when you are sleeping or out of the house.

As part of IDT Energy New York’s goal of helping people save on their electric and gas bills, we surf around the internet until we find some great web sites with great money saving tips and advice and share them with you.

Check out this cool web site chock-full of ideas to help you reduce your power bill and help save the planet, too.
Follow the link to “Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.” Check it now!

Now that New York State is de-regulated for the supply of natural gas and electricity, substantial savings on your energy bill with IDT Energy is just a phone call away.

While Con Edison remains the company which delivers your power, New York customers can switch to IDT Energy for their supply of electricity and natural gas. When consumers do this, they can get great rates and seasonal discounts without having to pay a sign-up fee or any other fee, even if they choose to cancel.  Switching to IDT Energy requires no long-term commitment: you can cancel at any time for no cancellation fee.

Whoever your local utility might be, Con Edison or any other, they will continue to read your meter and send your bill, and service any problems you may have.

If you sign up to receive your energy through IDT Energy through the Switch and Save Program, you do not pay sales tax or gross receipts tax on the delivery of your natural gas and electricity.

Find out what other ways you can save by switching to IDT Energy.

In its ongoing desire to help you save energy this summer, IDT Energy has found some slightly creative ways to help you trim your electric bill.

1.    Quick Cook- The most efficient way to cook your food is in the microwave. It takes 2/3 less energy to use than your stove top. Who’d a thunk it?

2.    Dishwasher Ease- Not only does your dishwasher save you time, it actually uses less water than hand washing. Incredible!

3.    The Cupboard is NOT Bare- Did you know that the MORE food in your fridge, the easier it is for the fridge to maintain the cool temperature when you open the door? I didn’t know that!

We hope you stay cool this summer, without using too much electricity, and IDT Energy wishes its customers and friends a great vacation!