AMARILLO, Texas (Aug. 2, 2022) – Punishing summer heat has driven electricity demand higher across Xcel Energy’s Texas and New Mexico service area, but it’s not too late to take steps to use electricity more efficiently and lower bills during the warm days yet to come.

“The cost to power our air conditioners is the main component of a summer bill, and air conditioning is not something we should go without,” said Brad Baldridge, Xcel Energy director for Customer and Community Relations in Texas and New Mexico. “But if we manage it carefully, we can remain comfortable and hold down costs now and throughout the year.”

Average temperatures across the region have been consistently higher than the norm throughout July. Xcel Energy offers tips to beat the persistent heat and save money at its Energy Saving Tips page at xcelenergy.com. These include:

  • Using weather stripping to seal doors and windows so cool air can’t escape
  • Raising the thermostat level into the 80s when no one is at home, and then gradually lowering it to around 78 degrees when the house is occupied
  • Investing in a “smart” thermostat that allows customers to program and/or adjust thermostat settings from a mobile device
  • Closing blinds and drapes during the heat of the day to block the heat from sunlight
  • Using fans to circulate air throughout the home, even when the air conditioning is on
  • Opening interior doors to allow cool air to circulate in the house. Or, if there is a part of the house not in use, closing it off to keep the cool air where it is desired
  • Putting off cooking and clothes drying and other chores that create heat inside the home until past 7 p.m.
  • Shading air conditioning units to boost their efficiency

Additionally, installing LED bulbs helps stretch savings further because they use 70-90% less energy and last 15 times longer. Xcel Energy has teamed up with select retailers in its Texas-New Mexico service area to provide discounts on certain LED bulbs. Customers can locate these retailers at the company’s Home Lighting page at xcelenergy.com.

Customers can take a further step toward ongoing savings by having their homes tested for air leaks that can make cooling and heating units less efficient and more costly to operate. Xcel Energy provides a list of approved energy efficiency contractors at xcelenergyefficiency.com that will find these air leaks and make energy-saving improvements free of charge.

Xcel Energy is doing its part to hold down costs by leaning on its abundant resources of wind farms, which use the free and abundant wind to power wind turbine generators. Additionally, improvements to the region’s power grid have enabled the company to access low-cost supplies of power through the Southwest Power Pool as well as deliver electricity more efficiently and more reliably.

Customers needing extra time to pay their bill can visit with Xcel Energy about setting up payment arrangements by calling 1-800-895-4999 Monday through Friday or visit the customer support page at xcelenergy.com to learn about options and programs to help manage bills. Xcel Energy customer agents can also connect customers with resources in the community that offer assistance in paying utility bills.

 

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About Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) provides the energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company is an industry leader in responsibly reducing carbon emissions and producing and delivering clean energy solutions from a variety of renewable sources at competitive prices. For more information, visit xcelenergy.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.