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summer saving tips on electricity

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Tips on saving energy during Summer

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how to save energy and money during the summer

Summer. It’s still here. It’s hot, it’s humid and you probably have your air conditioner working overtime.  Our last place had a beautiful big tree out in the front yard. It provided plenty of shade and we could get away with the door being open and the breeze flowing through our home. Our new place is the exact opposite of that. The sun sets, blazing its hot fiery rays right into our living room right around 4 p.m. Our home quickly rises to a much warmer and uncomfortable temperature. One that our ceiling fans just can’t handle.

This year, I have implemented a few more tips provided to me by Southern California Edison (SCE). I’m all about saving energy (you are welcomed Mother Earth) and the money that I save is a nice little incentive to keep doing it. In my own way, I’m also helping to keep the electric grid stable and reliable during hot days when energy use spikes and outages can happen.

As a recipient of the SCE newsletter, I received a few tips before Summer started and I implemented them when it started to warm up. Tips included:

  • Give appliances the afternoon off; peak power usage on weekdays is usually between noon-6 p.m.
  • Close drapes and blinds to keep out direct sunlight during hot periods.
  • When practical at night, use electric fans and open windows instead of using air conditioning.
  • Operate swimming pool equipment and energy-intensive appliances, such as dishwashers, washing machines and dryers, during early morning and evening hours.
  • Set thermostats no lower than 78 degrees
  • Enroll in money-saving programs such as:
    • Summer Discount Plan. the program offers up to $200 in bill credits for customers who allow SCE to temporarily disable your central air conditioner
    • Save Power Days. the program provides bill credits in exchange for reducing energy usage during peak periods, from 2-6 p.m., on designated days
    • CARE and FERA programs. find out if you qualify for the California Alternate Rate for Energy (CARE) and/or the Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) programs- The CARE program can save income-qualified customers about 30 percent on their utility bill, while FERA provides a lower monthly discount for income-qualified households of three or more based on their energy usage

SCE also reminded me about the importance of safety around electrical equipment. If you experience a power outage or see a downed or dangling power line, here are a few important tips to follow:

  • Assume all downed power lines are energized. If you see a downed power line, call 911 and STAY AWAY.
  • Unplug all sensitive electronics and leave one light on to signal when the power’s been restored.
  • You can use our mobile app to report outages and check estimated restoration times from your iPhone or Android. Just search for “SCE outage.”
  • Please check on elderly and medically fragile friends and neighbors to make sure they’re safe.
  • If traffic lights are out, treat each intersection like a four-way stop.
  • Visit www.sce.com/staysafe for more safety tips.

For more ways to save energy and money this summer, visit www.SCE.com/save. Customers can also get more tips via Twitter and Facebook, and watch videos on how to save energy on our YouTube channel.

This is a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.

Originally published on September 3, 2013. Last Updated on March 23, 2015 by Pattie Cordova

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