For Immediate Release: June 2, 2020

Tucson, Ariz. – Tucson Electric Power is offering ways that electric customers can reduce their summertime electric bills and maintain their comfort while using less energy.

Some of these recommended energy-saving tips are simple and low cost. Others require a financial investment, but can produce immediate and future cost savings. Additionally, TEP is offering residential customers rebates on a variety of energy efficient products and services to reduce the upfront cost.

Energy saving tips

• Adjust your thermostat. Set your thermostat to 78 or the highest temperature that is comfortable for your family on hot days. Every degree you raise your thermostat can reduce your overall energy costs by about 2-3 percent.
• Invest in a smart thermostat. Consider installing a smart thermostat, such as a Nest or ecobee, which learn your temperature settings and then automatically adjust to your preferences. A smart thermostat can help reduce your energy costs by up to 15 percent. TEP offers a $35 rebate to residential customers who purchase eligible smart thermostats.
• Change your air filter regularly. Dirty or clogged air filters restrict airflow and make your cooling system work harder and use more energy to cool your home. Change the filter monthly or as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Tune up your AC system. Have your central air conditioning system tuned up to help it operate as efficiently as possible during the summer. TEP offers rebates for system tune-ups performed by TEP-approved contractors to reduce the cost.
• Consider an AC replacement system. If your system requires frequent and expensive repairs or is nearing the end of its useful life, consider investing in a new high efficiency AC/heat pump system. TEP offers rebates of up to $900 with the early retirement of an older system to reduce your upfront cost. A new ENERGY STAR® system will start saving you money the minute it’s installed and for many years to come.
• Caulk and seal. Caulk and weather strip around windows and doors. Repair or replace caulking and weather stripping around doors and windows for a good tight seal that keeps hot air out and the cool air in.
• Install thermal blinds or draperies. Installing energy-efficient window coverings can reduce radiant heat in your home. Close them during the day to keep sunlight out and open them at night when it cools off. Installing awnings over south- and west-facing windows also provides shade and reduces radiant heat.
• Use fans. Turn on ceiling and oscillating fans to keep air moving so that you feel cooler without needing to lower the thermostat. Many ceiling fan models have switches that allow you to change the rotation of the blade. Run the blades counter clockwise in summer to draw up cooler air from the floor. In the winter, switch the blades to run clockwise to pull warmer air down from the ceiling.
• Upgrade your pool pump. Replacing your older, single-speed pool pump with an energy-efficient variable-speed pump will reduce your energy costs while still keeping your pool clean. Variable-speed pumps are 65 percent more energy efficient than a standard pump, potentially saving you $450 or more per year in energy costs in addition to TEP’s $195 rebate.
• Reduce indoor heat sources. Big screen TVs, ovens, clothes dryers, incandescent lighting and dishwashers radiate extra heat in your home when you’re trying to cool it down. Turn off the TV when you’re not watching it, grill outdoors or use the microwave oven instead of cooking inside, and run your dryer and dishwasher at night when it’s cooler. Use the delay start feature for your convenience.

For more energy-saving tips, visit tep.com/residential-energy-saving-tips.

Taking control of your energy usage

Customers are encouraged to learn more about how and when they use energy so that they can take steps to save energy and lower their bills. Customers can review their monthly usage on their electric bill and their daily and hourly usage by logging into My Account on the TEP website or using the TEP mobile app.

TEP’s pricing planner tool also can help residential customers compare TEP’s pricing plans and choose the one that’s best for their lifestyle and energy usage. Customers on Time-of-Use (TOU) or demand pricing plans can significantly reduce their energy bills by shifting their energy usage to off-peak hours. Those plans reward customers with lower rates for reducing or avoiding energy usage during on-peak hours when the demand for energy is higher.

TEP provides safe, reliable electric service to approximately 428,000 customers in southern Arizona. For more information, visit tep.com. TEP and its parent company, UNS Energy, are part of Fortis Inc., which owns utilities that serve more than 3 million customers in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean. For more information, visit fortisinc.com.

News Media Contact
Sherri Cadeaux
(520) 780-3261
scadeaux@tep.com