Save On Electric Bills Amid Intense Heat With These Tips From PECO

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia region is dealing with intense heat this week, with temperatures nearing 100 degrees.

With the oppressive heat comes attempts to stay cool.

And with those attempts come increased electricity usage.

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The region's main power supplier PECO has offered up several tips for those in the region to keep electrical bills from skyrocketing amid the heatwave.

Below are some tips from PECO to keep bills lower:

• Turn it off: Turn off all unnecessary lighting and devices.
• Manage your thermostat: Keep thermostats at a constant, comfortable level when at home. Raise the thermostat setting for days of extreme heat to save even more. Install a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust your home's temperature settings when you're away or sleeping.
• Keep shades, blinds and curtains closed: About 40 percent of unwanted heat comes through windows. Simply closing blinds and curtains, which act as a layer of insulation, can reduce heat in your home.
• Use ceiling fans to circulate air: For those without air conditioning, use ceiling fans or portable fans with the windows partially open to circulate fresh air into your home. For those with air conditioning, fans can be used to evenly distribute cool air.
• Use appliances wisely: Run appliances that produce heat (like clothes dryers, ovens, and dishwashers) at night when it is cooler.
• Service your AC: Make sure to replace or clean the air filters for your cooling system at least once a month (or as often as recommended by the manufacturer) and have your system serviced regularly.

PECO customers can also monitor their usage online here.

There, PECO customers can track their energy use, set up high usage alerts, get tips on how to reduce energy costs, and learn which appliances use the most energy.