Tucson, Ariz. – Tucson Electric Power (TEP) is encouraging customers to get ready for summer with free home upgrades, energy saving tips and other ways to maintain manageable bills and reliable service.

Claim a Free Smart Thermostat

Customers can sign up to receive a smart thermostat at no cost through the online TEP Marketplace. Any residential TEP customer can participate, but the offer is only available while supplies last.

Smart thermostats can ‘learn’ user preferences to help customers save energy and money. TEP is offering the free thermostats just in time for summer when customers typically use more energy and see higher bills. TEP advises participants to make sure the model they select is compatible with their existing heating and air conditioning (AC) system. Assistance in deciding which thermostat to order and other questions may be directed to (855) 393-9717.

Five Fast, Free Ways to Save

Higher summer temperatures and humid monsoon weather can force air conditioners to run longer, driving up energy use and monthly bills. Use these tips to turn down the heat on your electric bills this summer.

• Close shades and blinds. Block out the sweltering midday and afternoon sun to reduce radiant heat entering your home, keeping your home cooler without your AC working so hard.
• Adjust the thermostat. Consider setting your thermostat to 78 degrees in the summer. For each degree you raise the temperature, you may be able to reduce energy usage by 10 percent or more.
• Use fans. Ceiling or oscillating fans can keep air moving so you feel cooler without increasing air conditioner use.
• Air dry. Electric clothes dryers use a lot of energy and add heat to your home. Try drying your clothes naturally by hanging them outdoors. Likewise, forego the drying cycle on your dishwasher to save energy. Simply open the door after the rinse cycle to let your dishes air dry.
• Lower the temperature on your water heater. Electric water heater manufacturers often set the default temperature to 140 degrees. Reducing the temperature to 120 degrees helps save energy while maintaining a temperature that’s still high enough to kill harmful bacteria.

TEP has more energy-saving ideas for customers at tep.com/news/nine-steps-to-get-ready-for-summer.

Defeat the Peak

Energy is a limited resource, particularly as hotter temperatures increase demands on the western regional grid. Although TEP is well-prepared for summer, extreme weather in our region could increase energy costs and limit our access to some resources, particularly during peak usage periods.

By limiting energy use from 3-7 p.m., you can help defeat the peak to keep our service reliable and affordable, since TEP pays a premium for the resources customers need during peak summer periods.

Customers may be able to save money by using one of our Time-of-Use pricing plans, which offer lower rates at certain times of the day. Shifting energy usage to mornings, midday and later in the evening can reduce your monthly bills. One caution about TOU and Demand plans: Unless everyone in your home is willing to reduce energy usage during peak times, your monthly bill could increase. Learn more about our pricing plans before making a switch.

There’s one other benefit of avoiding on-peak energy use: Using energy at midday and in the evening makes the most of our wind and solar systems, which produce more power during off-peak hours.

Manage Your Bill

TEP offers free and easy ways to help manage your energy bills. Customers can find their hourly, daily and monthly energy usage through My Account and the TEP mobile app. Customers also can set up Budget Billing and pay the same amount for electric use every month, evening out the peaks and valleys that result from weather-driven usage.

TEP provides safe, reliable electric service to more than 442,000 customers in Southern Arizona. For more information, visit tep.com. TEP and its parent company, UNS Energy, are subsidiaries of Fortis Inc. (TSX/NYSE: FTS), which owns utilities that serve more than 3 million customers across Canada and in the United States and the Caribbean. For more information, visit fortisinc.com.

News Media Contact:
Joseph Barrios
(520) 884-3725
jbarrios@tep.com