Nothing affects your energy use and your bill like extremely low or extremely high temperatures. Especially when those temperatures stay high for an extended period, as we’ve experienced over the last month.

Heating and cooling are the largest contributors to your energy use, so when the temperature drastically rises, usage and bills go up. Your home’s age, how many people live there, and how cool you keep your home all play a part.

So, what can you do? United Power offers a variety of tools and programs to help you manage your budget and be more energy-efficient.

Monitor Your Daily Usage

Through the United Power mobile app and the Power Portal, you can watch for trends in your usage to see how much energy you’ve used before your bill arrives.

Make Your Smart Thermostat Work

Enroll your Nest or Honeywell smart thermostat in our Smart Rewards program and you’ll help us curb energy during peak times. This saves the cooperative from purchasing expensive peak power, reduces your energy use, and we pay you $25 at the end of the summer for participating.

Enroll in Pay As You Go

Never receive a bill after the fact. With Pay As You Go, you pay for electricity the same way you pay for gas or groceries, keeping you well informed of how much energy you’re using and what it is costing daily.

Energy-Saving Tips

Check out these energy-saving tips to help lower your bill:

• Keep your thermostat setting as high as you can. Every degree below 78 can increase your bill three percent or more.
• Have your air conditioner serviced regularly and don’t forget to change the filters. Dirty filters reduce air flow and cause your system to work harder, which can increase your cooling costs and lead to costly repairs.
• Plug those leaks! Use weather stripping, caulk or foam insulation to fill in the leaks around windows, doors, or under your sinks where the pipes go into the wall.
• Block the sun! During the day, close your blinds or curtains, especially on windows that face the sun to avoid extra heat gain.