As the summer months approach, Entergy Mississippi said customers can stay cool while avoiding the cost of high energy bills.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, home heating and cooling costs can make up more than 52% of an average customer’s electric bill. In some cases, poor insulation, air leaks and inefficient HVAC systems can lead to even greater energy costs each year.
Improving energy efficiency with low-to-no-cost tips
- Change air filters. Air filters on some air conditioning units require monthly cleaning or replacing.
- Set your thermostat to the highest comfortable temperature. The smaller the difference between the inside and outside temperatures, the lower your energy usage and bill will be.
- Buy a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat can help manage costs, is controllable, and can help monitor usage.
- Use fans to cool off. Ceiling fans, box fans and oscillating fans use very little electricity to circulate the air. Make sure ceiling fans are rotating in the right direction – counter-clockwise during summer – to push cooler air down into the room. Be sure to turn all fans off in unused rooms.
- Close blinds, shades and curtains to keep the sun out and the cool air in. Also, close air conditioning vents in rooms that are not in use.
- Seal cracks and holes around doors, windows and ductwork. Weather stripping and caulk will help keep the cold air in and the hot air out.
- Use the myAdvisor tool. The usage and cost tool can compare usage history by month, day and hour.
Exploring resources through Bill Toolkit
To make sure customers have quick access to energy efficiency, bill management and financial assistance resources, Entergy created an online platform called Bill Toolkit.
Tracking energy use through myAdvisor
Customers can set electric usage alerts and monitor how much energy they use each day through bill management tools like myAdvisor which is available through their myEntergy account online.
Managing bills through payment and assistance options
Entergy offers several flexible payment options so customers can choose when, where and how they receive their bills.
- Pick-A-Date allows customers to pay their bills when it works best for them.
- Level Billing allows customers to “level out” seasonal energy use fluctuations, making their bills more consistent every month.
- PaperFREE billing allows customers to get their bills emailed as soon as they post and instant access to two years of billing history.
- AutoPay allows customers to avoid late fees, writing checks and paying for postage by having bills automatically deduct from their bank accounts.