May 3, 2011

Higher Georgia Power base rates took effect in January 2011, causing an average customer’s bill to increase by almost $11 per month. Georgia Power customers also started paying the Nuclear Construction Cost Recovery charge in January 2011 – almost $4.00 per month for the average customer.

Since many customers have already seen their bills increase by almost $15 per month or more, take control of your electricity usage in the upcoming summer months by adopting these good habits:

• Set your thermostat to the warmest temperature you can tolerate (78 degrees, if possible).
• Clean or replace air filters on a regular schedule, as energy is lost when air conditioners have to work harder to draw air through dirty filters.
• Use ceiling fans or portable fans to cool whichever room you spend a lot of time in.
• Turn off window air conditioners when you will be away for several hours.
• Weatherize your home or apartment, using caulk and weather stripping to seal air leaks around doors and windows.
• Use heat-producing appliances like the oven, the dishwasher and the clothes dryer at night, since temperatures can drop drastically after sundown. Take advantage of the cooler evening temperatures.
• Replace incandescent bulbs with LED or compact fluorescent bulbs.
• If you’re not using an appliance, unplug it, if it’s not too much of an inconvenience.

Remember: The less demand there is for electricity, the less justification there is for utilities to build expensive power plants. By taking steps to reduce your usage, you will not only save money, but you will also contribute to reducing our state’s future energy needs.