Skip to main content
 

Toll Free: 800-824-5102

Home
Menu
  • My Account
    • Account Information
      • Start/Stop Electric Service
      • SmartHub Account Portal
      • Capital Credits
      • Contact Us
      • 2024 Rate Restructuring
    • Billing Information
      • Payment Options
      • Rates & Regulations
      • Demand Information
      • Understanding your Bill
      • PrePaid Advantage Program
      • Bill Payment Assistance
    • Outage Information
      • Outage Information
      • Outage Map
      • Right-of-Way Procedures
  • My Cooperative
    • News and Events
      • News
      • Publications
      • Annual Meeting
      • Annual Reports
      • Co-ops Vote
    • About EIEC
      • About Us
      • Board of Directors
      • Employees
      • Service Territory
      • Employment
    • Co-op Information
      • What Makes Co-ops Different?
      • Power Supply
      • Governance
      • Touchstone Energy
  • My Community
    • Community Involvement
      • Co-op Connections
      • Request a Speaker
      • Sharing Success Program
      • Grassroots Advocacy
    • Educational Programs
      • Empowering Education Grant Program
      • Youth to Washington Program
      • School Presentations
      • IEC Scholarship Program
  • Energy Solutions
    • Save Money
      • Energy Efficiency
      • Together We Save
      • Geothermal & Air-Source Heat Pumps
      • Insulation
      • Request an Energy Evaluation
    • Energy Programs
      • Heat Pump Rebate Program
      • Business Development
      • Standby Generators
      • Electric Vehicles
    • Renewable Energy
      • General Information
      • Net Metering
      • Net Billing
      • Qualifying Facilities
      • Bright Options Solar
  • Safety
    • Call Before You Dig
    • Safety Tips
    • Storm Safety
    • Safety Quiz
    • Outdoor Lighting

6 Clever Things You Can Do with a Smart Plug

Whether you're a smart device expert or a home automation newbie, smart plugs are a great addition that can make your home more efficient.

6 Clever Things You Can Do with a Smart Plug

Check out these creative ways you can use smart plugs around the house to save money and make your life easier.

Published: 9/3/2024 8:30:14 PM

Check out these creative ways you can use smart plugs around the house to save money and make your life easier.

Smart plug

Whether you're a smart device expert or a home automation newbie, smart plugs are a great addition that can make your home more energy efficient. Their advanced features can help you save a little extra time and money, too. Here are six creative ways you can use smart plugs around the house.

1. Charge multiple types of devices

Whether you have a two-prong, three-prong or USB plug at the end of a cord, smart plugs can handle them all. Smart plugs come in a variety of shapes and sizes, some ideal for space-saving situations and others fully equipped to handle a variety of appliances and devices.

2. Pinpoint energy-wasting appliances

Want to know exactly how much it costs to run your appliances and devices? Smart plugs can track how much electricity your appliances use, helping you determine if it's time to upgrade to a more efficient model.

3. Connect with other smart devices

You can get the most out of your smart plug and control your devices from anywhere by connecting it with a smartphone app or a voice assistant like Amazon's Alexa, Apple HomeKit or Google Assistant.

4. Keep your home safe

Smart plugs can reduce the chance of electrical fires by automatically switching off appliances like space heaters and electric blankets. To ward off burglars, you can set timers for lights near windows to make it seem like your home is occupied when you're away.

5. Start cooking before you get home

Want to get a head start on dinner? Plug your slow cooker into a smart plug, prep a meal and then use a connected smartphone app to turn on the slow cooker from anywhere. That way, you'll have a perfectly stewed meal waiting for you when you get home.

6. Make holidays more jolly

Plug your festive light displays into a smart plug so you can create a schedule and have them turn on and off at set times. Or, make Halloween a little spookier by turning lamps on and off through a connected smartphone app.

Smart plugs won't cost you much, and they're easy to install — just plug them into an outlet, and you're ready to go. Regardless of how you intend to use your smart plug, it's undeniable that investing in this helpful technology is a wise move.

Back to Top

Contact us

EI Help Desk

Email

Our Location

330 W. Ottawa
PO Box 96
Paxton, IL 60957

Toll-free: (800) 824-5102

Fax: (217) 379-2936

Map & Directions

Weather

Local Weather

Follow us

Eastern Illini Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

©2025 Eastern Illini Electric Cooperative. All Rights Reserved.

  • My Account
    • Account Information
      • Start/Stop Electric Service
      • SmartHub Account Portal
      • Capital Credits
      • Contact Us
      • 2024 Rate Restructuring
    • Billing Information
      • Payment Options
      • Rates & Regulations
      • Demand Information
      • Understanding your Bill
      • PrePaid Advantage Program
      • Bill Payment Assistance
    • Outage Information
      • Outage Information
      • Outage Map
      • Right-of-Way Procedures
  • My Cooperative
    • News and Events
      • News
      • Publications
      • Annual Meeting
      • Annual Reports
      • Co-ops Vote
    • About EIEC
      • About Us
      • Board of Directors
      • Employees
      • Service Territory
      • Employment
    • Co-op Information
      • What Makes Co-ops Different?
      • Power Supply
      • Governance
      • Touchstone Energy
  • My Community
    • Community Involvement
      • Co-op Connections
      • Request a Speaker
      • Sharing Success Program
      • Grassroots Advocacy
    • Educational Programs
      • Empowering Education Grant Program
      • Youth to Washington Program
      • School Presentations
      • IEC Scholarship Program
  • Energy Solutions
    • Save Money
      • Energy Efficiency
      • Together We Save
      • Geothermal & Air-Source Heat Pumps
      • Insulation
      • Request an Energy Evaluation
    • Energy Programs
      • Heat Pump Rebate Program
      • Business Development
      • Standby Generators
      • Electric Vehicles
    • Renewable Energy
      • General Information
      • Net Metering
      • Net Billing
      • Qualifying Facilities
      • Bright Options Solar
  • Safety
    • Call Before You Dig
    • Safety Tips
    • Storm Safety
    • Safety Quiz
    • Outdoor Lighting