LA homeowners miss $52,000 average savings by skipping energy audits

The Energy Savings Group says Los Angeles homeowners are leaving money on the table by skipping home energy audits, with local clients averaging $52,000 in potential savings. The consultancy says rising utility rates and the wrong rate plans are driving higher bills across the region.

Why it matters: - Los Angeles homeowners are facing higher utility bills while living costs keep rising across the region. - The Energy Savings Group says many households could lower energy costs without major renovations or new equipment. - The company says the average potential savings for local homeowners is $52,000 per household.

What happened: - The Energy Savings Group said it has helped more than 6,200 local homeowners collectively save over $217 million on energy costs in the last year. - The Los Angeles-based residential energy consultancy said most homeowners do not realize how much they are overpaying until they review the numbers. - The company said home energy audits, utility bill reviews and custom savings plans are the core of its service.

The details: - The Energy Savings Group said rising utility rates are one major driver of higher bills in California. - The company said California has some of the highest electricity rates in the country, and those rates rise every year. - The Energy Savings Group said confusing rate plans from Edison, LADWP and other utilities are another common problem. - The company said many homeowners are on the wrong pricing plan, which can cost hundreds of dollars a year. - The Energy Savings Group said utility companies do not alert customers when they are on an unfavorable plan. - The company said a household overpaying slightly one year can overpay much more as rates continue to climb. - The company said summer is when most California homeowners notice high energy bills, but audits can be useful year-round. - More information is available on the company website. - The company also listed a Facebook page at social media.

Between the lines: - The pitch is not about replacing appliances or funding large efficiency projects. - The Energy Savings Group is positioning audits as a low-friction way to find savings already embedded in household utility use. - The message also suggests many customers may be losing money from avoidable billing and rate-plan errors, not just from higher consumption.

What’s next: - The Energy Savings Group says homeowners can start saving sooner if they complete an audit earlier. - The company expects savings to grow as utility rates continue to rise. - The consultancy says its process is designed to produce a household-specific savings plan after the audit and bill review.