SWEPCO offers tips to save money, energy

SHREVEPORT, La.—As temperatures climb this week in the Ark-La-Tex, so will energy use. Southwestern Electric Power Co., an AEP company, shares tips on how to conserve energy and keep the electric bill in check.

NO-COST TIPS

■ Save heavy housework such as washing dishes, using the oven and laundry for cooler parts of the day. These appliances create heat and moisture that put an extra strain on your air conditioner.

■ Keep direct sunlight out as much as possible. Close curtains, shades and blinds to hold down the temperature inside the home.

■ Shut doors and close vents in unused areas of your home so you don’t waste energy cooling empty rooms.

■ Be sure the damper is tightly closed on a fireplace to prevent air loss.

LOW-COST TIPS

■ Clean or change the air filters in your air-conditioning unit. Dirty filters cause the equipment to work harder, using up to 5 percent more energy than a clean filter.

■ Use fans to circulate the air. The breeze makes the air feel cooler than it is. Fans only cost $1-2 a month to operate.

■ Properly ventilate your attic to prevent excess heat build-up, which causes your cooling system to work harder. ■ Upgrading or installing insulation can reduce cooling costs by as much as 20 percent.

■ Replace old weather-around doors and windows to prevent leaks.

“All of the leaks in a home are the equivalent to leaving the front door open in the summer,” said Paul Pratt, SWEPCO manager of Energy Efficiency programs.

“Adding insulation, sealing leaks and purchasing high-efficiency heat pumps are some of the ways you can reduce your energy use.”

SWEPCO can help with these upgrades at little to no cost. Get started by finding a SWEPCO-approved contractor at SWEPCO.com/ Save.

Customers who qualify have the option to sign up for SWEPCO’s free Average Monthly Payment plan. Through AMP, a customer’s bill is based on average monthly energy usage. The costs of cooling are spread over the whole year with AMP, making summer bill payment manageable.

You also can track your energy usage and see how much electricity you have used in the past with the SWEPCO mobile app. The SWEPCO app is available for free on the App Store for iOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.