How to Save Money on Your Electric Bill this Summer

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By Joy Burgess
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Summer is here, and for many this means a hike in the electric bill. If you are sick of seeing so much money paid to the electric company every single month, you probably want to know how to save money on your electric bill this summer. Prices for electricity are higher than ever, but you can lower your bill with some simple techniques. Here are several simple steps to help you cut back on what you pay for electricity throughout the summer.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

programmable thermostat
Energy Star rated appliances
caulking supplies
sun shades

Step 1

Install a programmable thermostat. This can help you save money on your electric bill this summer and it is relatively inexpensive to purchase. This allows you to program your thermostat to adjust the set temperature, raising it during times when you are sleeping or away from the house. Why pay to cool your home when you don't need as much cooling? In the long run you can save big with your programmable thermostat.
Step 2

Always turn off appliances and lights when you aren't using them. During the summer electricity is generally more expensive. Just leaving on appliances or lights is enough to make your bill go up. You can save money on your electric bill this summer by making sure you turn off your appliances whenever you are not using them and simply turning off lights when you are not in the room.
Step 3

Caulk openings around doors and windows. You are paying a premium price for cool air during the summer. Don't let it escape through cracks around your windows or your doors. Simply doing a bit of caulking can seal up these cracks and keep your air from escaping, saving you on electricity.
Step 4

Have your AC unit serviced. If your air conditioning system is not running the way it should, it can pull a lot of electricity to run during the summer. Each spring you should have the system serviced before summer hits to make sure it is in good working order. You'll pay for the service but over the summer you can save big time.
Step 5

Purchase and install sun shades for windows. Especially if you live in an area that has a lot of sun and is very hot, these sun shades can be very helpful. Pick them up at a hardware store and install them and it keeps the heat from the sun out of your home. This lowers your cooling costs, helping you to save money on your electric bill this summer.
Step 6

Buy appliances that are Energy Star rated. No matter what appliance you are purchasing, check the Energy Star rating on the appliance. You want appliances that will be as efficient as possible, especially during the summer months.
Step 7

Check with your electric company about special plans. Some electric companies offer special plans to help you save money on your electric bill during the summer months. Some offer discounts on electric in off peak hours, and although you'll have to adjust your schedule a bit to take care of tasks that use electric during these times, it can pay off over time.