Why is my electric bill so high? How Arizonans can save money
As the summer months approach, Valley residents brace not only for the soaring temperatures but for the usual hike in energy bill prices that typically comes with the season.
Most Valley residents agree that air conditioning in the hottest large city is nothing less than a necessity. Still, they also tend to agree there needs to be a balance between comfort and cost, a recent Arizona Republic poll suggests.
Luckily, you can use practical and effective strategies to reduce these expenses while not necessarily compromising comfort. From optimizing air conditioner use to harnessing natural ventilation, small adjustments can make a significant difference.
Here’s your ultimate guide on saving energy, with tips from local experts and energy providers to help residents stay cool while keeping their wallets healthy as the peak of summer approaches.
10 tips to save money on your energy bill
- Plan your AC use.
- Install a smart thermostat.
- Ventilate and use fans.
- Block out sunlight.
- Design your home for efficiency.
- Use renewable energy.
- Consider how you use home appliances.
- Use cooling bedding.
- Ensure AC efficiency.
- Try an DIY energy-saving project.
Arizona experts agree using your AC strategically can help you save the most on your energy bill.
Salt River Project spokesperson Casaundra Donahoe said almost 50% of your energy bill during the summer comes from AC use. Donahoe said one effective strategy residents can follow is setting their AC a few degrees higher before leaving home.
“We recommend while you’re home, keeping it at at least 78 degrees to save money and energy. And then when you leave, every degree you can set it above 80 degrees will help to save you about 2-3% on your bills,” she said.
Katie Conner with Arizona Public Service also suggests setting your AC at a higher temperature during peak hours.
“Pre-cool your home during off-peak hours and stay comfortable while saving money if you are on a (time of use) plan,” Conner said.
Your price peak hours vary depending on the plan you are using.
Investing in a smart thermostat can make planning your AC use easier, as it helps set your AC on a schedule and control the temperature from your phone even when you’re not at home.
Tom Hines, a customer advisor with APS, said the company encourages customers to install smart thermostats. It offers a $30 rebate for purchasing a qualifying thermostat on APS Marketplace or at another retailer and then applying for the credit through APS. Customers can get an additional $85 rebate by enrolling in APS’s Cool Rewards program.
“It saves you a ton of money cooling your home when you’re not there,” Hines said. “If you’re on vacation or you’re away from home, you can automatically adjust your temperature, setting it up a little bit.”
SRP customers can access rebates on a new smart thermostat on marketplace.srpnet.com and get up to $100 off their SRP bill when they join SRP’s Bring Your Own Thermostat Program. By participating in the program, customer’s thermostats will automatically adjust a few degrees higher during periods of high power demand.
“We have over $1,100 in rebates available, depending on the type of unit you install,” Donahoe said. “We have lots of great deals and rebates on smart thermostats.”
People who already own a smart thermostat and enroll in SRP’s thermostat program can receive a $50 SRP bill credit per eligible thermostat when they enroll and a $25 credit each year they remain enrolled in the program.
If it ever gets cold enough in the evenings or early mornings, you can try opening your windows and strategically placing fans to allow fresh air to circulate through the room.
According to Hines, fans can promote airflow and enhance the cooling effect.
“(Fans) circulating air creates a little bit of a breeze, and that breeze over your skin is going to make you feel 2 to 3 degrees cooler,” he said. “So you could actually turn the thermostat up a little bit, save 2-3% for every degree, and use ceiling fans and other fans in your house so that you feel the same temperature”
According to Brandon Young with Payless Power, a Texas retail energy provider, ceiling fans and portable fans produce just 1% of the energy that an AC unit does.
“If you leave your fan on all day, it uses the same energy as if you had your AC on for just 15 minutes,” Young said.
Young and Donahoe suggested ensuring your ceiling fans run counterclockwise to create a cooling breeze.
When you leave the room or leave home, experts recommend turning your fans off because they cannot cool a room.
Do you agree?Most Arizonans set their AC thermostat to this temperature, new poll shows
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