• Use compact fluorescent bulbs. If you have lamps or lights that are on for more than two hours a day then try using fluorescent light bulbs. The quality of fluorescent light bulbs has significantly improved over the past ten years and prices have even come down somewhat. They are still more expensive than the regular light bulbs but in terms of how long they last and how much energy they save you it's definitely worth the purchase. They are 6-8 times more efficient than a regular light bulb and they last about 10-20 times longer than the usual light bulb.
•  Unplug devices. Go around your house and unplug some of your devices that aren't being used. It might sound silly, but even if you're not using them they're still using up some power just to stay warm.
•  Set your thermostat back. Just by lowering your thermostat by ten degrees for at least 8 hours a day you can save almost ten percent on your energy bills. So before you leave for work in the morning turn your thermostat down and then turn it back on at night.
•  Use a microwave instead of the oven. If you're just cooking a small meal it will save you money to use the microwave or a toaster oven instead of turning the stove on. They use less energy and don't require you to preheat. Electric ovens will cost you about $27 a year while microwave ovens cost about $5 a year.
•  Buy a lap top. A computer system is probably one of the biggest energy suckers in a home. It can use anywhere from $35 to $140 a year. Using a lap top can significantly cut your energy cost by almost 85%. If buying a lap top is out of the question then set your computer to go into the "standby" mode when it hasn't been used for so many minutes.
•  Check the furnace filter. It's always a good idea to check the filter every so often, but failing to clean or replace a filter can make your furnace and central air conditioner work hard than it needs to, which will cost you more money. Replacing and cleaning the filter can save you money.
•  Get rid of your old refrigerator. Believe it or not, that old refrigerator could be adding as much as $100 to your electric bill every year. So even though you think you're saving money by sacrificing a new fridge for the older one you're not. A new high efficiency refrigerator uses less electricity than a light bulb.
•  Give appliances a break. If you're going away on a trip somewhere and don't plan on being back within a few weeks then turn off appliances and unplug everything (within reason of course). Set your thermostat back significantly so it's not running at full force while you're not home. It's silly to leave anything on or plugged in while you're not even going to be in town using it.
•  Ask for an energy analysis. Call your electric company and ask someone to come out and analyze your electric usage. It's usually free and will give you a better idea of where the money is going. They should inspect major appliances, frequency of use and then offer you ideas on where you can cut back to eliminate some of the costs.

If you're electricity bill seems outrageous you don't have to just deal with it. Take some action and figure how to cut your electric bill now and stop wasting your money away.