DARKE COUNTY – As the county is expected to continue to experience high temperatures and hot and humid weather, Dayton Power and Light (DP&L) is offering these hot weather tips to stay cool for less.
What can customers do now to stay cool and save money?
- Set the AC higher – Since energy used to cool a home during hot weather and heat a home in the winter accounts for almost half of a monthly bill, keep your air conditioning set at 78 degrees.
- Go automatic – Set air conditioning to “auto” instead of “on” and save on energy costs.
- Block the sun – Close drapes and blinds during the hottest parts of the day to keep the heat out and the cool air in.
- Click it off – Turn off unnecessary lights and switch to energy-efficient CFL or LED bulbs that produce less heat.
- Circulate – Use a ceiling fan or floor fans to circulate air to occupied rooms. Turn them off if you leave because fans cool people not rooms.
- Small is better – Cook with your microwave or toaster oven instead of your stove.
What changes will save customers long term?
- Install a programmable thermostat. Proper use can save $180 a year. DP&L offers rebates when you install it with a new high efficiency system.
- Upgrading your system to a new, efficient model can save $150. DP&L will send you a rebate – you don’t have to do the paperwork.
- Install a whole-house fan.
- Insulate your attic and make sure it is properly ventilated.
- Install energy efficient windows and doors.
If your air conditioning runs constantly, it will result in a higher electric bill. Check our website for tips on saving energy and lowering your electric bills.
DP&L offers a number of payment options and there are a number of payment assistance programs available from the State of Ohio to help customers manage their electric bills. A special home energy assistance program is available for low income customers with a documented illness
Get rid of summer peaks in your bill with budget billing.
DP&L expects to meet the hot weather electricity demands of our 515,000 customers this week. As always, we’re prepared to respond 24/7.
DP&L constantly monitors our generation of power, weather conditions and customer usage throughout our 24-county region. During times of extreme heat, we delay routine work to maximize the capacity of the system. We also have back-up power sources.
The forecast is also calling for a chance for thunderstorms that could cause outages.
Report a power outage by calling DP&L: 877-4OUTAGE (877-468-8243) or online: www.dpandl.com/report . You can also check our online outage map (www.dpandl.com/map).
Notify DP&L of lines that are down by calling 877-4OUTAGE (877-468-8243). For a life-threatening emergency due to a power line: call 911.