The summer of 2000 saw Arab Sultanates manipulating the cost of crude oil for their own sake and not yours. California experienced electrical deregulation with household bills doubling in some areas. In the future, energy companies may compete for your business the way that long distance companies do now. For now, however, the only way to save energy is to use less of it. Others associate energy conservation with poverty.
Energy conservation saves real dollars and preserves a public resource.
Here are some ways to cut energy costs without compromising your lifestyle too much. In some climates, heating and cooling represent the largest part of household energy use. You don't have to freeze or roast to death in order to save money. Check with the manufacturer of your equipment or with your utility company to see how often filters on your units need to be cleaned. Don't heat or cool when no one is home.