3 Hacks to Instantly Slash Your Hydro Bill (and Build Some Character While You’re at It)

Ready to save big on your hydro bill while toughening up a little? Here’s the game plan: ditch the dryer, say goodbye to your dishwasher, and embrace cold showers.

Before you dismiss this as the ramblings of a lunatic, stick with me for a minute—I promise it’ll be worth your time.

Most people think saving on their hydro bill just means turning off a few lights. That’s fine if you’re content with baby steps, but if you’re as ultra-frugal as me, you’re ready to go all-in.

Let’s skip the five-page essay and get straight to the point. Here’s why these changes work—and how much you’ll save.

The Average Household Hydro Reality
Typical North American household: ~12,500 kWh/year (~1,041 kWh/month).
Manitoba Hydro rate: $0.0896/kWh.
That’s about $89.60/month before taxes.

Now, with Manitoba Hydro planning a 15% annual rate hike for the next 4 years (a 60% total increase), the cost of doing nothing isn’t just high—it’s skyrocketing.

Hack #1: Kill the Dryer
Your dryer is an electricity monster. Flip its breaker off and let it go. Instead, hang-dry your clothes: they’ll smell fresher, last longer, and cost you nothing.

DIY Setup:

Install a simple drying rack (I used a 10-foot, 1-inch pipe in my basement—total cost: $5).
Savings? Massive. You’ll notice the difference on your bill immediately.

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Hack #2: Fire the Dishwasher
Dishwashers are another sneaky energy hog. Washing dishes by hand takes less time than you think and delivers better results.

The Alternative:

Grab a dish wand for $3—it’ll last months and works wonders. Turn off the dishwasher breaker, and you’ve just slashed a chunk off your monthly bill. 👉 Click here to snag a dish wand on Amazon.ca.

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Hack #3: Embrace Cold Showers
This one’s a bit tougher—but worth it. Your hot water tank is a hidden power-sucking demon, consuming 19% of your monthly electricity.

Here’s the math:

A 50-gallon, 5,500-watt water heater running ~5 hours/day costs $73.92/month ($887.04/year).
By switching to cold showers, you can reduce that cost to around $18.48/month.

Why It’s Worth It:

Over 15 years, investing the savings at a 7–10% annual return could grow to $22,795.87.
You’ll also save time (because, let’s be real, you’ll want to get out fast).
Benefits Beyond Savings
Cold showers aren’t just a cost-cutting trick—they’re a health boost. They:

Improve circulation.
Strengthen immunity.
Stimulate fat loss.
Boost testosterone (for the guys).
Start small: gradually lower the temperature each day until you’re fully comfortable with cold. Soon, it won’t feel as crazy as it sounds.

The Results?
By cutting our household’s energy usage from 1,100 kWh/month to just 230–250 kWh/month, we’ve reduced our hydro bill to $25/month.

These small changes add up fast, saving you thousands in the long run—all while toughening you up and building real character.