Public Power Week

SIX TIPS TO SAVE ON YOUR ELECTRIC BILLS

PES is celebrating Public Power Week (#PublicPowerWeek), Oct. 7-13, along with the American Public Power Association and more than 2,000 other community-owned, not-for-profit electric utilities that collectively provide electricity to 49 million Americans. To mark this week, PES offers a few tips on how to save energy and money in your home, while caring for the environment:

  • Plug energy leaks with weather stripping and caulking, and be sure your house is properly insulated — you can save up to 20 percent on heating/cooling bills, and make your home more comfortable.
  • Clean or change filters regularly. A dirty furnace or air conditioning filter will slow airflow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool.
  • Install a programmable thermostat to save up to 10 percent on cooling and heating costs.
  • Wash clothes in cold water. Heating the water in a washer uses 90 percent of the energy used to wash clothes. According to Energy Star, by switching to cold water, you can save $30-$40 every year.
  • Use energy-efficient light bulbs including halogen incandescents, CFLs, and LEDs to reduce energy use by as much as 80 percent.
  • Turn off all lights, appliances and electronics not in use. Better still, use a power strip and turn off devices and lights that are not in use to cut standby power, to save $100 a year on your electricity bill.

“We know that using energy wisely to lower monthly electric bills is important to Giles County residents,” said PES President/CEO Richard Kelley. “While we are sharing these tips during Public Power Week, we hope our community will keep an eye on energy efficiency all year round.”

PES offers a variety of programs to help you use energy wisely. Call PES today to learn more about energy audits, water rebates, home self-evaluations (eScore) and incentives for electrification.