As the temperatures heat up and the chance for monsoons increases, APS is committed to delivering reliable power to its more than 1.2 million customers.
In Flagstaff, energy needs peak in the winter when heaters are necessary during cold temperatures. However, while we’re enjoying our beautiful mountain summers, those living in the southern part of the state see increased energy demand. Regardless of where you happen to be throughout the year, APS is here to help you better understand your energy usage and your bill.
Here are three easy ways to save:
Get to know how you use power.
The top five energy users in any given home are usually the air conditioner unit, pool pump, water heater, clothes dryer and oven. Customers are encouraged to learn and evaluate where electricity is used in their home. When cooking smaller quantities of food, consider using a toaster oven or microwave. When it gets warm, think about turning on the fan or closing the curtains before changing the temperature on your air conditioner. Little decisions, like turning off the lights when leaving a room, can add up in big savings.
APS’s My Account, our online account management site, includes personalized tools that can help you analyze energy consumption in your home. It can also recommend other ways to help you use energy more efficiently, thus saving you money on your bill.
Consider cooling your home during off-peak hours.
During hotter months, if you are a customer on a time-of-use plan, consider “pre-cooling” your home by adjusting your thermostat a few degrees lower during off-peak hours, depending on the plan. Doing this can help your home stay cool through peak hours without having to turn on your AC unit. It may take time to experiment with pre-cooling, but customers should see what works best for them. You may be surprised at how much you can save by keeping in mind off-peak hours.
Make sure you are on the service plan that’s best for you.
As an APS customer, you have choice on your side. With five service plans from which to choose, you can decide to enroll in a plan that will save you the most or one that will maximize convenience. The Saver Choice, Saver Choice Plus and Saver Choice Max plans offer a lower cost on your usage during off-peak hours (8 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday through Friday, all day on weekends and 10 annual holidays). Lite Choice and Premier Choice plans charge a flat rate on the amount of energy you use, no matter the time of day. Keep in mind, you don’t have to worry about finding the right plan on your own. We have an online plan comparison tool, customer service representatives standing by to help, and even videos to help you along the way. Even better, you can change your plan based on your needs throughout the year.
To learn more about ways to save, “pre-cooling” your home, or choosing a service plan that’s best for you, visit aps.com/save. FBN
Janet Dean is the community affairs manager for APS.
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