DENVER (July 9, 2024) – Temperatures along Colorado’s Front Range are forecast to be near 100 degrees for consecutive days beginning Thursday and into the weekend. Xcel Energy encourages customers to consider ways to save energy and keep their bills low.

Home cooling accounts for nearly half of a customer’s summertime electric bill. The best way customers can keep their bills low is to practice basic conservation and efficiency habits to stay cool, such as:

  • Installing a programmable thermostat that raises the setting when the house is empty and lowers it to a comfortable level when everyone comes home.
  • Using ceiling fans to circulate cool air throughout the home.
  • Opening interior doors to improve the circulation of cool air inside.
  • Using a whole-house or attic fan to draw in cool nighttime air and push out hot air during the day.
  • Changing air conditioner filters and having your air conditioner coils cleaned to improve efficiency.
  • Closing drapes and blinds during the heat of the day.

Customers can also reduce their overall bills by:

  • Turning off lights and electronics when they’re not in use.
  • Replacing incandescent bulbs with LEDs, which use 75%-80% less energy than traditional bulbs and last 15% longer.
  • Running washing machines, clothes dryers and dishwashers with full loads and only after the heat of the day. This helps keeps the house cooler and reduces strain on the electric grid.

Energy Action Days

With the high temps, Xcel Energy customers may receive an Energy Action Day email from the company with information on ways to save energy. Energy Action Days, a new program in Colorado this year, encourages residential customers to reduce their energy use during times of peak demand days – typically the 5 to 10 hottest afternoons over the summer. The notifications will include energy savings tips to reduce overall energy use on the system while providing cost savings for customers. Learn more about Energy Action Days here.

Time of Use

Customers on a Time of Use rate can also lower their energy bill by pre-cooling their home each day. Lowering the thermostat during off-peak hours or overnight, and then raising it during peak hours can lower their bills, while keeping their home at an optimal temperature. Additionally, using heat-generating appliances like washing machines and dishwashers during off-peak hours will also help save on the summer electric bill.

In summer, Time of Use rates run from June 1 to September 30 and are as follows:

  • Off-Peak (18 hours – 7 p.m. – 1 p.m.) - $0.12/kWh
  • Mid-Peak (2 hours – 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.) - $0.22/kWh
  • On-Peak (4 hours – 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.) - $0.32/kWh
  • Residential Opt-Out - $0.16/kWh

Weekends and Holidays are billed at the off-peak rate.

Saver’s Switch and AC Rewards

Residential customers can also enroll in the Saver’s Switch and AC Rewards programs, which help support the energy grid during very high use. Customers are financially compensated for enrolling in Saver’s Switch and AC Rewards. Customers who have already signed up should review their enrollment and the details of the program and what to expect during the hot summer months.

Xcel Energy has more tips for saving money and energy on its Energy Savings Tip Page. It also offers incentives and rebates that customers can use to make homes and businesses more efficient. Information on these programs can be found at www.xcelenergy.com by selecting the “Programs & Rebates” link at the top of the homepage. 

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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 X, formerly known as Twitter, and Facebook.