18 Aug
Intermountain Rural Electric Association and its wholesale power provider, Xcel Energy, urge customers to be mindful of their electricity use as Colorado endures extreme temperatures and several large wildfires. Customers can conserve energy through small changes in consumption habits and behavior. These minor actions can lower customers’ energy bills and reduce demand on the electric grid:
• Turn off lights and other devices when they are not in use.
• Close drapes and shutter blinds – especially those that face south – to reduce solar gain and ease demand on your home cooling system.
• Use a ceiling fan for temporary comfort in individual rooms.
• Turn off the air conditioner and open windows overnight.
• Set your thermostat to 78 degrees or higher and consider installing a smart thermostat if you don’t already have one.
• Stagger your use of large appliances and avoid using them at the same time your AC is running.
• Use an outdoor grill or smoker as an alternative to the oven, which heats up the kitchen and adjacent spaces and makes your AC work harder.
• Reconsider which devices you use to stream digital content. Built-in apps on your TV or dedicated streaming devices use less power than a video game console.
• If possible, businesses should shift energy-intensive work to the morning or late evening.