Saving on your summer power bill: Tips from AEP Ohio

With inflation chipping away at household budgets, one place to save money is on your electric bill, said Tiffany Locklear, AEP Ohio spokeswoman.

"Particularly in the summer with the temperatures rising, we do see an increase in electric services," she told the Mount Vernon News. "Some of the things that customers can do are pretty simple things, like unplugging electric appliances when they aren't in use, even something as small as a phone charger, hair dryer or even televisions."

Just having the cord in the socket saps tiny amounts of power than can add up, Locklear said.

Switching older light bulbs out with more efficient LED bulbs can also help lower bills, she added.

"We also recommend washing full loads of laundry in cold water," she said.

Running your washer, dryers and dishwasher after 9 p.m. can also help.

"It's cooler then, and it helps AEP with load and peaking as well," Locklear said.

Even making sure you change the lint filter in your dryer can reduce power usage by allowing the appliance to operate more efficiently, she said. The same is true for changing the filter on your air conditioning system filter.

"Just like our parents told us, 'Turn the lights off if you aren't using them,'" Locklear said.

When nobody is home, setting your air conditioning to 78 degrees is a good idea, she said. A programmable thermostat that could automatically change the settings is also good to have and can pay for itself by reducing power bills.

"They now have programmable thermostats that you can control with your smartphone so that you can control it even when you are not home," she said.

Fans can save energy as well.

"We find that running your ceiling fan counterclockwise can create a cool breeze," Locklear said. "What it does is push the cooler air down."

Trees in your yard can also help.

"Just like there are energy savings inside your home, there are some things outside,” Locklear said. “We advise planting tall trees on the south side of your home for maximum summertime roof shading.

A span of 6-8 feet from your home is the best distance to plant trees.

“That will help with the shading of the windows in the first year,” she said. “Also, we advise customers not to plant trees or hedges where they will grow into the overhead power lines."