Tips

9 ways to beat the heat’s effects on your electric bill

When summer temperatures – and humidity – rise, it seems like the hum of your home’s air conditioner is nonstop.

The heat of summer can also mean higher electricity consumption.

Summer is traditionally OPPD’s peak demand season, with warm and often humid conditions a big contributor. Unfortunately, all of this can result in higher electric bills for OPPD customers.

There are some things customers can do to lower their energy usage and hopefully keep their bills manageable:

• Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible. 78 degrees is often cited as an optimal temperature. When setting your thermostat, a one-degree increase can conservatively save 3 to 5 percent on energy.
• Keep window shades and blinds closed to block direct sunlight.
• Schedule a check-up of your cooling equipment with a licensed contractor, if you have not done so this year.
• Clean or change your system’s air filter monthly to save energy and help prevent system failure.
• Use ceiling fans to enable you to raise your thermostat about 4 degrees, with no reduction in comfort.
• Turn off fans when you leave the room. Fans cool people, not rooms, by creating a wind-chill effect.
• Delay washing dishes or doing laundry until after 8 p.m., and restrict the use of heat-producing appliances such as ovens until later in the day.
• Unplug appliances and shut off lights that are not in use.
• Shower early in the morning or later in the evening.

OPPD offers these and many more seasonal energy-efficiency tips online.