Summer heat means higher electric bills; how to save energy and money

Summer officially starts June 21, but the heat in the Borderland certainly makes it feel like summer has already begun.

As the temps continue to climb, so will your energy usage which means higher electrical bills.

“The average bill hovers around $75 to $80 and in the summer it upticks probably north of $100,” said Eddie Gutierrez, El Paso Electric spokesman. “But it does vary because of energy usage in the home.”

Gutierrez said summer rates will be lower than in years past by an average of $9, which he said is because of tax credit reductions and fuel credit reductions.

“It’s good news for our customers as we enter those hot summer months, but it’s never too early to start thinking about how to use energy a little bit better and more wisely,” Gutierrez said.

El Paso Electric said 16 of the past 17 seasons have brought significant increases in peak demand records for energy usage.

Gutierrez said there are a lot of factors at play for the increase. “The city is growing just over 1.6 percent on any given year,” he said. “We are also seeing refrigerated conversion, from swamp coolers to refrigerated air.”

Gutierrez told ABC-7 that the company will see an increase in conversions every summer. “That number continues to grow, but it hovers around the 40 to 50 percent marker.”

El Paso Electric said people should be conscious of how they use energy efficiently this summer.

“There are a lot of way a homeowner and a commercial business owner can save energy,” said Mariah Novela the energy efficiency program coordinator. “Some of the low-hanging fruit is lighting.” She recommends people use LED lighting instead of the incandescent lighting. “It’s also conserving energy, like shutting off your lights when you are not using them,” Novela said.

She also recommends turning up your thermostat when you know you will be outside the home for long periods of time.

El Paso Electric listed the following tips to save energy:

During the heat of the day, block the sun by closing drapes, windows and doors to keep unwanted heat from entering your house. Avoid cooking, bathing, or doing laundry during the hottest hours of the day. These activities produce heat in the home that has to be cooled. Wait until there is a full load before washing clothes or dishes. Whenever possible, do your laundry during cooler evening hours, using cold or warm water instead of hot. Use your clothesline to dry laundry when possible. Minimize oven use by baking several items at once. Make sure your refrigerator’s door seals are air-tight and its condenser coils are clean, so it will operate more efficiently. Repair any broken windows or gaps that would let cool air escape. Turn your air conditioner off before you leave home for extended periods. Use room and window fans to help cool your home. When it is hot outside during the day, a room fan can circulate the cooler inside air if the house is kept closed. When your rooms are warmer than the outside air, use fans to expel hot air on the sunny side of the house and to draw in cooler air on the shady side.