Energy Use on the Rise Due to Scorching Summer Temps

Nashville, Tenn. – Nashville Electric Service says customers shouldnt be surprised by higher bills this summer due to extreme weather. The month of June was 47 percent hotter than normal with an average daily temperature of 80.8 degrees. NES has already surpassed last summers system peak load of 2,346 megawatts. The electrical system reached 2,364 megawatts on June 24th at 4 p.m. The highest system load on record is 2,712 MW on August 9, 2007. The weather can have a dramatic impact on your electric bill, said Jim Purcell, NES Energy Services Manager. A five degree higher temperature outside means that your air conditioning system is working much harder to maintain the comfort level inside your home. NES urges customers to focus on practicing energy conservation to keep bills under control. Try turning your thermostat up a degree or two above where you normally keep it. We recommend a setting of 78 degrees or higher. Each degree that you turn your thermostat up could save you one percent on your total electric bill. NES suggests using fans to increase your comfort level at a higher thermostat setting by as much as 4 to 6 degrees. Ceiling fans consume as little energy as a 100-watt light bulb, which is about 95 percent less energy than most central air conditioners use. Dont forget to close the blinds or shades in your windows that receive direct sunlight to block out the suns heat and reduce your cooling load. Remember to replace air filters monthly, especially if you have pets in your home. For more energy-efficiency advice and helpful power saver calculators, visit Ways to Save at www.nespower.com. Nashville Electric Service is one of the 12 largest public electric utilities in the nation, distributing energy to nearly 700,000 customers in Middle Tennessee. For more information about NES, visit www.nespower.com.