Summer Weather Impacts Electric Bills

High temperatures during summer months play a large part in increased electric consumption as well as higher utility bills for most consumers each year. Most WFEC members experience their highest bills during the extreme summer and winter months.

Did you know that cooling costs could represent up to 50 percent of your monthly electric bill? Is there anything you can do to decrease the impact extreme temperatures can have on your utility bills? Yes!  Follow the steps below to help reduce your consumption and keep your bills manageable during the summer months:

Have your cooling system professionally checked & serviced. This will ensure that your unit is running at its peak efficiency.

Change your filter. Cut your household energy consumption by 5 to 15 percent by simply keeping air filters clean. Always remember to change your filters once a month or when necessary. Dirty filters restrict airflow and can cause the system to run longer and work harder, increasing energy use.

When you first turn your air conditioner on, do not set the thermostat lower than the desired temperature. Setting it lower than necessary will not cool your home any quicker, it will only run longer in order to cool it to a lower temperature — this wastes energy.

Raise your thermostat. We recommend your thermostat be set at 78 degrees or higher during the summer. You can save up to 4 percent of your household energy consumption for each degree you raise your thermostat. Also consider installing a programmable thermostat. They typically offer savings of 10-15 percent without compromising personal comfort.

Use the “auto fan” setting on your thermostat. This will keep your home at a constant temperature and prevent your air conditioner from working harder than needed.

Use ceiling fans to disperse cool air. They can make rooms feel a couple degrees cooler than they actually are, allowing you to keep your thermostat at a higher temperature. Be sure to turn off fans when you leave a room.

Do not obstruct air conditioning vents. If the vents are covered, you won’t feel the cool air that you are paying for.

Keep lamps and TVs away from the thermostat. The heat they produce will cause your air conditioner to run longer, running up the cost of your power bill.

Delay heat-producing activities — like dishwashing and laundry — until the evening. These appliances heat up your home, creating extra work for your air conditioner.

Close all unnecessary openings in your home. Keeping doors, windows and fireplace dampers closed will prevent cool air from escaping and going to waste.

Plug air leaks. Weather strip & caulk any leaky doors and windows and install foam gaskets behind outlet covers.

Check insulation levels. If necessary, add insulation in attics and crawl spaces. This will not only help to conserve energy, but will also improve household comfort.

Consider cooling alternatives for your home. Fans & dehumidifiers use less energy than air conditioners and can help increase comfort by reducing humidity levels and maintaining steady airflow. You can also reduce heat buildup by keeping blinds and curtains closed on widows facing the sun.

When replacing air conditioners or other cooling equipment, choose energy efficient models. These may cost a little more, but can pay for themselves through lower energy usage over the lifetime of the equipment.