Consumers make wise choices about how, when, and how much energy they use each day to power everything from smart phones and home appliances to office equipment and industrial machines.
In homes and businesses, the way we use energy is also changing rapidly. Just 20 years ago, home computers were still using dial-up to connect to the Internet. Home appliances like refrigerators, washers and dryers, televisions, thermostats relied on electricity, but not in the same way they do now.
Today, the devices we use are increasingly interconnected and smarter. Your refrigerator or washer and dryer likely use technologies as complex as your smart phone. That means they’re more sensitive to, and more dependent on, a smooth, reliable flow of energy.
Fortunately, the tools consumers have at their disposal to help them use energy wisely—and more cost-efficiently—are also expanding.
Numerous things you can do at little to no cost can improve your personal energy efficiency and help keep your costs low. Technology innovations can help make it easier to monitor and adjust energy use in our homes and businesses in real time:
Using the energy we have more efficiently is vital to making our state’s energy system stronger and helping it work better for all of us. Making smarter energy choices is also one thing we all have in our power to help Michigan usher in a cleaner, more reliable, and more energy-efficient future, together.
We recently discussed some of the ways local energy providers work to support local communities by participating in an array of community-focused projects and initiatives. Today, we want to take some time to recognize some other ways local providers are giving back to help support everything from good old summertime fun to wildlife restoration and environmental education to economic and neighborhood development in communities across the state.
Summer is heating up—and with the higher temperatures come increased energy use and greater demand. All of these factors can have a significant impact on the rates we pay for electricity. That’s why now is a good time to take a look back at some of our previous discussions on rates and infrastructure investments.
Building a brighter, cleaner energy future for all Michiganders isn’t just an investment in upgrading our state’s energy sector or electric infrastructure. It’s an investment in jobs, in local businesses, and in our communities.
