The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is responsible for providing water and electricity to all residents of the Emirate. Much like the rest of the world, a certain amount is charged by the authority from the users. That said, users are capable of reducing this bill amount by following certain basic rules and tips.
Let’s take a deeper look at the tips and tricks to reduce the DEWA bill in Dubai.
General Tips on How to Reduce DEWA Bill in Dubai
Conserving electricity and water will not only reduce the bill, but will also contribute to the green initiative of Dubai. Factoring utilities are necessary as bills can impact the budgeting of your rent and also the monthly expenses.
Here are some of the general DEWA energy-saving tips that can contribute to reducing your bill.
Avoid Leaving Appliances on Standby
Devices on standby mode can contribute to 5% of your total electricity bill. Therefore, it is suggested to switch off your electronic devices rather than leaving them on standby mode, when not in use. In this context, smart power strip technology can also help you in saving electricity. The system automatically shuts down the devices when they are in sleep mode.
Check Water Leakage
Water leakage can be a major cause of water loss in homes. The easy way to check water leakage is by using food colouring. Add a few drops of food colour to the toilet tank and wait for a few minutes, if the colour starts to appear in the bowl it indicates water leakage.
Program your Thermostat
A programmed thermostat works in accordance with the temperature. When the room’s temperature reaches a certain level, it automatically shuts down the cooling system. This contributes to reducing the DEWA bill. You can take this trick to the next level by installing fans in the room. The fan regulates cool air in the room, thus rapidly dropping the temperature.
Use Energy-Efficient Products
A number of energy-efficient electronic appliances are present in the market. These devices are designed to consume less electricity, yet work with the same efficiency. First, switch to an inverter AC that consumes 35% less energy. Along with this, energy-efficient bulbs including CFL and LED are available in the market in different shapes and sizes. The LED bulbs consume 75% less energy contrary to incandescent lighting.
Install Water-Saving Showers
Sanitary companies are designing shower heads that use less water. These heads restrict the water flow and allow only three gallons of water per shower. Also, closing faucets during shaving or brushing can also save a lot of water. By doing this, you can save 100 gallons of water/week.
Clean your AC Regularly
Air conditioning systems use filters to purify the air before circulating it in the room. Dust and debris get collected in the filter which forces the cooling system to work harder and thus increasing bill and waste energy. To reduce this, it is suggested to clean your filter every two weeks, if you find cleaning difficult, read our blog on home cleaning tips for effective and timely cleaning.
How to Save Bill During Peak Hours
The peak load hours of DEWA start from 12 pm to 6 pm, especially during the summer season (June to September). Following are the tips to reduce utility consumption during peak hours.
- Complete your daily chores before or after the peak hours in order to reduce burden during these hours.
- Run a limited number of electronic devices during peak hours.
- The Air Conditioning system consumes a huge amount of electricity: therefore, it is advisable to reduce the AC consumption during peak hours. If you are leaving home, shut down the AC, also do not leave the AC running in an empty room.
- Peak hours in summer are the time when most of the electrical appliances’ malfunction due to excessive usage or extreme temperature. Keep a close check on your devices and immediately call DEWA or 991 in case of any unusual burning smell or smoke from the AC vents and switches.
- It is also recommended to complete your outdoor tasks requiring electricity during peak hours to save on the home electricity bill.
During summers, DEWA launches a special program named “DEWA Summer Drive”.
The core purpose of this drive is to spread awareness regarding the effective use of electricity and water. For registration, log in to your DEWA account and update the consumption pattern file. The app will provide you with customised tips as per your consumption.
How to Reduce Your DEWA Bill While Doing Daily Chores
Users can reduce a large amount of bills by taking small precautions while doing daily household chores. Here is the list of precautions and tips that you must follow to reduce the DEWA bill.
- Install a task lightning system rather than lighting the whole house. This will provide you with enough light where necessary and eliminate the usage of excessive lights.
- Check all the doors and windows and block any opening that leaks air while AC is on. This will increase the efficiency of AC and will make it more energy-efficient.
- Make sure to unplug your electronic devices prior to leaving home or sleeping.
- Place a bottle filled with water or sand in the toilet tank. This will help in reducing the amount of water used in every flush.
- Close the faucet while washing fruits, vegetables, or any other item.
- Regularly clean your fridge and refrigerator to defrost it. Additional frosting on the sides of the refrigerator will create an additional burden on the motor, thus leading to energy waste.
- Try to operate the washing machine when doing the full load. Set the water level as per the load you are putting in.
- Use a layer of organic mulch around your garden. This will help in storing the moisture in the plants and save time, money and water.
- Water the garden as per the soil moisture. Check the soil moisture 2 to 4 inches below the surface, if the soil is dry then it needs regular watering.
- Ensure that your water sprinkle is leak-proof. Also, install automatic shut-off valves in your sprinklers to avoid water wastage.
How to Reduce Your DEWA Bill When You Are on Vacations
Users are requested to take extra precautions when leaving their residents for more than a day.
- Unplug all the electronic appliances in the home and also shut down the main switch.
- Close the water supply to all the faucets and also shut down the main water supply.
- Make sure to turn off the heater and AC.
- Ensure that all the switches and faucets in the house are closed. Also, check for water leakage, as these leakages can flood the house in your absence.
DEWA’s Shams Dubai Program
DEWA Shams program launched in 2015 encourages clean energy usage in the Emirate. Users enrolled with this program will be able to install solar panels on their residential buildings, and use solar energy to fulfil electricity consumption. This will help in reducing the amount of electricity bill significantly.
These were all the tips and tricks involved in reducing the DEWA bill in Dubai.
These tips will create a significant impact on your DEWA bill amount, however, if you still have a higher bill despite all of these precautions, it can be due to worn-out wiring.
If you are a tenant it is suggested to shift your house rather than fixing old wirings. You can browse through these properties for rent in Dubai, and find a suitable home for yourself.
Stay tuned to dubizzle’s property blog for more information on DEWA Dubai.
