As the summer heat settles in, AEP Ohio is sharing simple tips and programs that can help make a real difference in customers' electric bills and their comfort.
"Hot weather is here and AEP Ohio wants to help customers stay comfortable while keeping their electric bill manageable," said Deanna Gilliland, AEP Ohio energy efficiency and consumer programs manager. "There are small, low-cost things anyone can do today that will help them save money and energy."
Beat the Heat: Simple Tips to Stay Cool and Save
Small adjustments can help customers reduce their energy use and their electric bill during hot weather:
- Close blinds and curtains during the day to keep the sun's heat out and cool air inside. Keep window coverings shut, especially on the sunny sides of your home, to help reduce your home's overall temperature.
- Run appliances like dishwashers, ovens and dryers in the early morning or evening to avoid adding heat during the hottest parts of the day.
- Weatherstrip doors and caulk windows to prevent air leaks. Make sure you keep all windows and doors closed when your air conditioner is running.
- Use your ceiling fan, setting it to rotate counterclockwise to push cool air down. Fans cool people and pets, not rooms, so turn it off when you leave the room.
- Adjust your thermostat. Raise the temperature a few degrees while you're away or asleep to save energy. When you're home, pair the adjustment with a fan to stay comfortable it can make you feel up to 10 degrees cooler.
Explore AEP Ohio's Savings Programs and Tools
For customers looking to take their energy efficiency and savings further, AEP Ohio offers a variety of programs and tools:
- Smart Thermostat Marketplace & Power Rewards: Customers can shop the AEP Ohio Marketplace for instant savings on smart thermostats. By enrolling in Power Rewards, eligible customers can receive an instant $75 discount on a new smart thermostat and earn additional digital gift cards for allowing automatic adjustments during times of high energy demand.
- Virtual Home Energy Savings Walkthrough: Customers can book a free, one-on-one virtual home energy savings walkthrough with an AEP Ohio Energy Advisor. The advisor will help them find ways to save money and energy throughout their home, all from their smartphone or tablet.
- Energy Dashboard: Customers can access this online tool by logging into their AEP Ohio account. It provides a personalized view of their energy usage, helping them identify exactly where and when they use the most power.
- Time-of-Use Tariff: This residential electric rate is tiered based on the time of day customers use power. Usage during off-peak periods is charged at a reduced rate, with a higher charge occurring during on-peak hours.
- Plug-In Electric Vehicle Tariff: This rate offers residential customers with a plug-in electric vehicle a reduced electric rate on the distribution component of their bill for charging during off-peak times. To enroll in this rate, customers must have a smart meter and charge a plug-in electric or hybrid vehicle at their home.
"Whether it's a quick setting change or enrolling in a program that pays you back, we have options for every customer," Gilliland said. "Our goal is to make it as easy as possible to stay comfortable and keep costs manageable this summer."
For more energy-saving tips, tools and programs, visit AEPOhio.com/Save.
About AEP Ohio
AEP Ohio is based in Gahanna, Ohio, and is a unit of American Electric Power. AEP Ohio provides electricity to 1.5 million customers across 61 counties. News and information about AEP Ohio can be found at AEPOhio.com.
About AEP
American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) is committed to improving our customers' lives with reliable, affordable power. We plan to invest $78 billion from 2026 through 2030 to enhance service for customers and support the growing energy needs of our communities. Our nearly 18,000 employees operate and maintain the nation's largest electric transmission system with 40,000 line miles, along with more than 252,000 miles of distribution lines to deliver energy to 5.6 million customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation's largest electricity producers with approximately 32,000 megawatts of diverse owned and contracted generating capacity. We are focused on safety and operational excellence, creating value for our stakeholders and bringing opportunity to our service territory through economic development and community engagement. Our family of companies includes AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana, east Texas and the Texas Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, which provides innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. AEP is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. For more information, visit aep.com.
