How to keep that pesky electric bill down?

How to keep that pesky electric bill down? A question many in our region wonder whenever the summer months arrive. News 11’s Madison Kimbro spoke with APS to get tips on how to conserve energy and make sure you don’t break the bank.

You’ve heard it countless times, people complaining about their electric bill. What usually is a reasonable payment in the winter and fall months escalates in the summer. It often depends on what type of air conditioner you have. A lot of people think turning it off during the day when you’re not home is the best, while other’s believe the less you turn it on and off the better because the start up process in itself consumes of a lot of energy. The verdict? Neither one of those ideas has been 100% proven to work, but what does? Community Affairs Manager with APS explains.

“By raising your thermostat one degree you can save two to three percent on your energy costs. What i always say is just raise it one degree everyday and see what that threshold is for you to be able to stand that temperature. If you put it at 75, put it at 76 the next day and see if you can handle that. You can set your fan to run counterclockwise. On your ceiling fans there’s a little switch on them and if you switch it up or down you can see clockwise or counterclockwise. If you set it to be counterclockwise when it’s hot outside, that will help cool your room,” says Anna Chaulk.

Another major tip? General maintenance. The more up-to-date your air conditioner is, the less likely it is to work harder trying to produce air through a dirty air filter, so changing out your air filter every 60 to 90 days is key!

Other tips include:

-Switch to LED lighting

-Wash your laundry before 3pm or after 8pm

Head to APS.com for more tips! Stay Cool!