Now is the time to prepare for summer.

Summer is on its way and when temperatures rise, your electric bills have the potential to rise too. Hot weather increases the demand for electricity to keep homes cool, which can affect your bill. Help get your home ready for the hot summer months with this warm weather checklist!

• Seal it up for summer.
  • Keep hot air out and cool air in by using caulk or weather strips to create strong seals on doors, windows and your attic access.
• Get smart before you get away.
  • No one’s using water while you’re gone – so why waste energy heating it? Before leaving for vacation, take a trip to your water heater and switch it off.
• Clean out your AC unit.
  • Make sure your outside air conditioning unit is free of debris, and schedule regular maintenance to keep it running efficiently.
• Trust the trees.
  • A well-placed tree can reduce cooling costs by 25%. But remember, before you plant a tree, make it power-line friendly by following these guidelines for planting locations:
    • Plant leafy shade trees in the south and west
    • Plant evergreens in the north
• Clean your dryer ducts. Lint buildup is common in our dryer ducts over time. Buildup can cause your dryer to dry your clothes less efficiently, requiring multiple runs to finish the cycle. Cleaning out your ducts ensures you use just the necessary amount of energy to keep your clothes dry and comfortable!
• Replace your air filters. Replacing your filters improves air quality and reduces strain on your HVAC system. If you live in an apartment, some complexes will replace your filters for you. Check in and see when your next scheduled filter replacement is!
• Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audit
  • Find out the energy efficiency of your home by taking a quick and easy online energy survey. You’ll receive a free energy-saving kit in the mail.
• Balanced Billing
  • Available to residential customers at the same location for at least 12 months, Balanced Billing is a rolling average of your kilowatt-hour usage that fluctuates minimally based on current month electricity rates. During the 12^th month of participation, NES will compare the cost of actual usage to the total amount paid for the year and balance your account.

For more ways to save energy, click here.