Chris O'Shea
According to a new report, summer electricity costs are expected to jump almost eight percent from June through September.
Energy Costs
The average electric bill will likely hit $719 for those four months. That’s up from an average of $661 for the same period last year.
Why Costs are Rising
The main reason you can expect your electric bill to skyrocket is Mother Nature. It is going to be extremely hot this summer. A report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) found that there is a 61 percent chance it will be hotter this year than last year. With all that heat, you’re going to be cranking the AC. And that’s when you’ll really feel it in your wallet.
Ideas to Lower Energy Costs
Thankfully, there are ways to keep your energy costs lower this summer. Here are some ideas:
Adjust Your Thermostat. The easiest way to save money on electric bills is to make strategic adjustments to your thermostat.
- Keep it higher when you’re not home.
- Lower it when you’re sleeping.
- Even better, install programmable thermostats that you can set to adjust automatically.
- If a room isn’t in use, close the vents and close the door.
- Even if you adjust your thermostat by one degree, you’ll save money.
Clean Your AC. Have an HVAC company come and clean your AC filters and ducts. The cleaner your AC units are, the more efficient they operate.
Use Ceiling Fans. If you have ceiling fans, use them.
- Set them to turn counterclockwise to push the hot air down and circulate the colder air.
- Using ceiling fans in connection with your AC will allow you to keep the AC thermostat set higher.
Do One Thing: Have your HVAC system regularly cleaned to ensure that it is running efficiently.
Jean Chatzky
