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Around the House Savings

9/03/2026

There are many things you can do throughout your day to reduce your energy usage and save on your electricity bill, even in the heat of summer.

In the morning, when you’ve already made your coffee, take a moment to close up the curtains, especially once the sun starts shining through and heating up the space. Reducing the direct sunlight and heat in your home makes it easier to cool.

Have you thought of using blackout curtains on some windows? It will be darker in your home, and you may need a lamp with an LED light bulb, but they can save energy by repelling heat by anywhere from 10 to 30%, depending on how heavy they are.

There are other things you can do around the house to reduce energy usage and save on costs.

Turn your water heater down to 120 degrees or the "normal" setting when home, and to the lowest setting when away. Water heating accounts for about 13 percent of home energy costs.

Just like in the winter, caulking or sealing around air vents, doors, and windows leads to savings, keeping cooler air inside the home.

Changing your HVAC air filter every three months (or as recommended by manufacturer) helps it run more efficiently. It is also advisable to have your HVAC tuned up regularly to ensure there aren’t any issues with the unit. No one wants their AC to break down when it’s hot out! And speaking of cooling, it is a good idea to pre-cool your home in the summer.

Like closing windows when the sun’s strongest, think about your appliance usage too. Cooking with the grill or smaller appliance like an ary fryer don’t make your kitchen as hot as using a stove or oven might Even better, no-cook dinners are a great way to avoid turning on any appliances while you make dinner!

Waiting until cooler times of the day or overnight to run dishwashers, clothes washers, or dryers can save on power usage and costs, too.

Flex Alerts

An interconnected grid means that natural disasters and extreme weather events can impact all of us. Under certain conditions we may even call a “Flex Alert,” which asks everyone to take simple steps to conserve energy using methods like those described above. To stay informed about Flex Alerts and grid events, sign up for text and email alerts.


Sign Up for Flex Alerts

What to Do When a Flex Alert is Called

During a Flex Alert, consumers can reduce stress on the power grid by shifting energy use to the morning and early afternoon hours.

On the morning of a Flex Alert, consumers should:

  • Pre-cool your home early in the day to reduce air conditioning use in the afternoon peak
  • Close blinds and drapes to keep the sun from heating up the home
  • Refrain from using dishwashers, washing machines and other major appliances
  • Set pool pumps to run early in the morning
  • Charge mobile devices and laptops early in the day
  • Pre-cook meals or choose meals that don’t require energy to prepare (think salads, appetizers, sandwiches, etc)