How to lower your Xcel Energy bill during severe heat - FOX 31 Denver

How to lower your Xcel Energy bill during severe heat | FOX31 Denver

DENVER ( KDVR) — Another round of high temperatures expected this weekend will place more of a demand on Xcel Energy’s power grid.

Colorado’s hot days and sometimes chilly nights can stress HVAC systems. Xcel told FOX31 that keeping your thermostat within the 68-degree range can keep rates lower for everyone. It is also a good way to reduce the stress on wind and solar farms and natural gas plants.

“If we get really hot days and our customers are using more energy it strains our electric grid more and it could potentially cause a brownout or a blackout,” said Xcel spokesperson Hollie Velasquez-Horvath.

To keep your home cooler and lower your bill, Xcel recommends closing curtains and blinds during the day and keeping interior doors open so cool air can flow through each room. You can also run appliances after 7:01 p.m. when electricity rates can decrease.

Xcel offers programs that will help customers save on their bill. The Saver Switch can be installed on your air conditioning unit to monitor your electricity use. Those who enroll in the program receive a one-time credit on their bill which is $40 on average.

“When we get to the point where we’re straining the electric system too much the saver unit will hold and pause the air conditioning unit at certain degrees,” said Velasquez-Horvath.

The customer is not able to make adjustments until opting out of the program.

Velasquez-Horvath said the AC Rewards program allows a third-party company affiliated with Xcel to remotely monitor and control your thermostat, a good option for those who don’t have constant access to their thermostat or appreciate the convenience of not having to make continuous adjustments.

The utility company offers more tips for saving money and energy on its Energy Savings Tip Page.