As a kid, it was one of my favorite questions to read: “What’s wrong with this picture?”

That was always the challenging start to a simple puzzle, sometimes called Spot The Difference: two side-by-side pictures that looked oh-so-similar … but not quite. On close inspection, a number of small details would prove to be different, such as the color of stripes on a dress, the number of candles on a cake, or the removal of a tree limb from the landscape. Notice the details, and you understand the differences.

That’s a useful skill for an electric customer, too.

Most of us don’t think much about our electric usage. From month to month, it feels pretty much the same – until we notice a change in the utility bill that we weren’t expecting. Even with some of the lowest electric rates in Colorado, that can still prompt someone to wonder “What’s wrong with this picture?”

Usually, it’s pretty easy to explain. For example:

• The time of year have an impact, whether it’s the December blaze of holiday lights or the air-conditioning blasts and summer electric rates that arrive with hot weather. To help account for this, always compare your bill to the same month’s bill from last year.
• You may have added some newer appliances that save money and energy, or have an old one that’s costing you both. For example, getting rid of an old refrigerator can make a noticeable difference – if it’s time for yours to go, check out our refrigerator recycling program.
• You may be due for some maintenance, which could be as simple as changing the air filters or cleaning frost off the fridge.
• You may have had some variations in your own lifestyle such as a child moving out (or moving back!), an intensive spring cleaning, or a long vacation away from home.
• You may have just passed through a month with five weekends – since people are often home more on the weekends, electric usage is heavier, too.

Once again, knowing the details makes a difference. You can even make some of those differences yourself with some energy efficiency home improvements, which might be as basic as replacing some old light bulbs with LEDs or installing a smart thermostat from the Efficiency Works Store. Even a little bit of attention can add up to savings for you.

Get the picture?