Tips to Lower Your Louisiana Electric Bill

There are a lot of people across the Arklatex upset about the latest electric bill.  If you check Facebook neighborhood pages, some peoples' bills have jumped to over $600-$800 or more. And with temperatures expected to continue into the triple digits over the next several weeks, things don't look to improve anytime soon.  So what are somethings you can do to help lower those energy costs?  Well... I'm glad you asked.

There are actually several things you can do to beat the heat, including some rebates and incentives that are available from Swepco.

• One of the simplest things you can do is make sure to change your systems' air filter every month.  This helps the unit run more effeciently
• Make sure you have adequate insulation. If you can see the joists in your attic, you should have additional insulation added
• If you have a fireplace, make sure the damper is closed during the summer.  Cool air escapes through your fireplace and chimney
• Cover your windows or close the blinds to prevent direct sunlight
• Make sure your AC vents and return vents aren't covered by furniture or rugs.
• Install a smart thermostat that you can program to automatically adjust for different times of the day
• If you set your thermostat up 5 degrees, it could save you up to 20% on your energy costs.
• Don't use heat-producing appliances like ovens or dryers during the hottest part of the day.
• If you have an electric water heater, make sure it's Energy Star certified, and set the temperature to 120 degrees.
• Make sure to wash full loads of laundry and dishes.  This reduces the number of loads, saving energy
• Wrap your water heater with a blanket to provide another layer of insulation, helping it to not have to work as hard to keep water hot.

Michael Corbin, External Affairs Manager at Swepco told KEEL News about programs available to help lower your energy costs, including a rebate program of up to $70 per thermostat for up to two smart thermostats in your home.  Swepco also offers Average Monthly Billing, which takes your annual energy usage over the year and evenly distributes the cost of your bill over a 12 month period so you aren't hit with the spikes like we're seeing now.  They also offer payment extensions, and will work out payment arrangements.  Find more information about these and other programs and incentives offered by going to Swepco's website:  SWEPCO.COM