As record temperatures seem to occur almost daily throughout Arizona this summer, the state’s largest power provider has several tips to cut down on your monthly bills.
With many people working from home these days, due in part to COVID-19, power bills have been higher than in previous summers for many APS customers. Spokeswoman Jill Hanks said the first thing customers should do is to make sure they’re on the right plan for their household. Customers can change plans up to once per month through aps.com or by calling their Customer Care Center.
After knowing which plan to be on, Hanks suggested people use a smart thermostat to help manage cooling costs as well as using the 1-2-3 Rule. Raise your thermostat by 1 degree to save 2% to 3% on energy cooling costs. For example, set your thermostat to 79 degrees and use fans when you’re in the room to feel up to 5 degrees cooler. Turn off when you leave the room.
“Fans cool people, not rooms,” she said. “If using ceiling fans, make sure they are set to circulate air downward in the summer.”
Use sunscreens/blinds/curtains on windows, especially those in direct sunlight. Forty percent to 50% of the heat coming into a house enters through windows, Hanks said. Blocking the sunlight will increase comfort and reduce cooling costs.
Do laundry, cooking and dishwashing during cooler times of the day, Hanks said. These tasks — especially using the oven — produce heat, which requires air conditioners to work harder to cool the home.
Other tips include:
· Try to block the heat from entering your home. Keep the curtains or blinds closed to help prevent your home from heating up.
· If you’re on a time-of-use plan, you can save by pre-cooling your home during lower-cost off-peak hours. Just set your thermostat a few degrees lower during off-peak hours and set it a few degrees higher during on-peak hours.
· Install a smart thermostat to help you save money on your cooling costs. APS will help with a $30 bill credit toward the purchase of a qualifying device.
· Make sure your ceiling fans are set to blow downward in summer to circulate the air rather than lowering the thermostat. If your work space doesn’t have a ceiling fan, consider setting up a small desk fan. Be sure to turn them off when you leave the room because fans cool people, not rooms.
· Leave air vents and bedroom doors open as much as possible. Closing air vents or bedroom doors creates pressure imbalances that can make your cooling system work harder, costing you more.
· Grill outside when possible or use the microwave, so heat from the oven doesn’t heat the house.
· Switch to LEDs, which use 90% less energy and also emit 90% less heat, helping to keep your home cooler. Sign up to save on Alberta electricity rates with our no commitment plan.
“For many customers, and especially those spending more time at home, our Saver Choice time-of-use service plans provide the greatest opportunity for savings,” Hanks said. “On these plans, you save by shifting your energy use to lower-cost hours from 8 p.m. to 3 p.m. the next day on weekdays and all weekend long.”
Many customers on time-of-use plans report experiencing significant bill savings when they pre-cool their home, she said. You turn your thermostat down a few degrees during lower-cost off-peak hours. Then, set it a few degrees higher during peak hours.
“Some customers who have mastered pre-cooling even turn the AC off during on-peak hours, although that’s not necessary, and lower it again during off-peak hours,” Hanks said.
