Power bills are rising with the heat: here’s how to combat that
Jul 17, 2023, 7:52 AM | Updated: 8:51 am
The thermostat at Darlene Wayment’s home in Ogden on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. Wayment has noticed a sharp increase in her utility bill with no increased usage in the past couple months. (Jeffrey D/Allred, Deseret News)
(Jeffrey D/Allred, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — What will our power bills look like after running our air conditioning units through this heat wave?
David Eskelson with Rocky Mountain Power said they are expecting an increase.
“Customers can probably look forward to their bill usage being about a third or so more,” he said.
Eskelson said they’ve been keeping an eye on the weather forecast and tried to do some work to prepare for the record-breaking heat.
“Adding equipment, changing out components, taking groups of customers from one circuit and putting them on another,” he said. “Most of that work happens without customers ever knowing.”
He said so far, they haven’t been too overloaded and have been able to keep power up for most customers. But we can help by making sure our AC units are in tip-top condition
“Make sure that your air conditioning is in good repair, clear of debris, the filters are clean.”
If you’re worried about a spike in your bill, Eckelson recommends turning your thermostat up a few degrees and seeing if you can still stay comfortable. You may be fine, and your energy bill will thank you. He also suggests finding additional coverings for windows that get a lot of sun to block some of the heat coming in.
Not only will these tips help your wallet, but they will help your entire area not be overloaded with power usage, and help us all stay comfortable in this heat.
Related reading:
- How to beat the heat in triple digit temps
- US Southwest swelters under dangerous heat wave, with new records on track
- Rocky Mountain Power: Dry weather has adverse impact on utility lines
