JACKSON, Mich., July 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers
Energy is encouraging Michigan
homes and businesses to take action to stay comfortable and keep
energy bills from rising, with high temperatures near or above 90
degrees expected to hit Michigan
for the rest of this month.
"Due to the high temperatures forecasted this week, we are
offering tips for customers that will help save energy and money,"
said Lauren Youngdahl Snyder,
Consumers Energy's vice president of customer experience.
"Consumers Energy is committed to helping Michiganders stay in
control of their energy use and still stay comfortable, even on
summer's hottest days."
Weather forecasts say this July could be one of the hottest
months in the past six years. Consumers Energy is projecting
that customers will use their air conditioning units 40% more than
a typical July.
Consumers Energy is sending email, text and voice alerts to
electric customers to let them know if they are using significantly
more energy, and offering the following tips to help reduce
summer energy use:
- Set your thermostat to 78 degrees when you're home and higher
when you're away. You'll typically save 1 to 3 percent on cooling
costs for every degree you dial up.
- Clean your air conditioning filter regularly. Dusty filters can
make your appliance work harder, wasting energy.
- Install a smart thermostat and program it to start your air
conditioner shortly before you get home. Consumers Energy offers
rebates of up to $100 on Wi-Fi
enabled thermostats.
- Seal leaks in your home. According to the U.S. Department of
Energy, you could save up to 30 percent on annual energy costs by
doing so. Inspect and seal around doors, windows, recessed lights
and attic hatches.
- Keep cool with fans. A ceiling fan cools fast and costs less
than air conditioning. You can also reduce the need for air
conditioning by installing an attic fan. Run your ceiling fan
counterclockwise, pushing air downward to cool more
efficiently.
- Close drapes, shades and blinds during the day to prevent the
sun from heating your home unnecessarily. Open windows and doors in
early morning and in the evening to let cooler air in.
- Use your stove, oven, dishwasher and clothes dryer in the
morning or evening when it's cooler outside. They add extra heat to
your home and make your air conditioner work harder.
- Sign-up for the AC Peak Cycling program, which lowers the
output of your air conditioner unit during select summer days.
You'll get $32 per full year you're
enrolled. Enroll at www.PeakPowerSavers.com/ac.
Customers who are having trouble paying their bill should call
Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050, or dial 2-1-1 -- a free service
that connects people with available resources in their community.
Consumers Energy also has assistance programs and can make payment
arrangements. Learn more at www.ConsumersEnergy.com/assistance.
Consumers Energy, Michigan's
largest energy provider, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy
(NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.7
million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower
Peninsula counties.
For more information about Consumers
Energy, go
to www.ConsumersEnergy.com.
Check out Consumers Energy on Social Media
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https://www.facebook.com/consumersenergymichigan
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SOURCE Consumers Energy