Summer is bringing soaring temperatures and higher energy costs, but there are effective ways for homeowners to keep their cooling bills in check. With more people spending time at home, energy consumption has naturally increased, putting additional pressure on household budgets. Fortunately, several money saving strategies can help homeowners maintain comfort while reducing costs during the hottest months of the year. Arizona Public Service (APS) has highlighted several practical savings tips that can make a significant difference on your monthly utility bills.
Understanding time-of-use plans is the first step toward meaningful reductions in your AC expenses. These plans designate certain hours as “off-peak” (typically 7 p.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends), during which electricity costs significantly less. By shifting major energy consumption to these periods, homeowners can achieve substantial savings without sacrificing comfort. The flexibility of work-from-home arrangements makes this approach even more accessible, allowing families to take advantage of lower rates during most of the week.
- Visit aps.com/tips for personalized energy-saving solutions. Source: aps.com
Smart Strategies for Time-of-Use Savings:
Pre-cooling your home represents one of the most effective techniques for homeowners looking to maximize money savings on time-of-use plans. This approach involves setting your thermostat a few degrees lower during off-peak hours, allowing your home to build up coolness that carries through into peak periods. When 4 p.m. arrives, you can adjust your thermostat several degrees higher, relying on your home’s thermal mass to maintain comfort while minimizing AC usage during the most expensive hours. Some savvy homeowners have perfected this method to the point where they rarely run their air conditioning during the 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. peak window on weekdays.
Strategic appliance usage provides another avenue for implementing significant savings tips. Running major appliances like washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers before 3 p.m. on weekdays takes advantage of lower rates while clearing these tasks from weekend schedules. For homeowners with pools, scheduling pump operation during off-peak hours can dramatically reduce costs. Those on plans with demand components can further optimize savings by staggering energy-intensive activities—for example, using delay settings on dishwashers to run after 7 p.m., or planning meals that don’t require the oven during peak hours. By shifting most of energy usage to lower-cost periods, the financial benefits become substantial.
Customized Energy Solutions:
Every homeowner has unique energy consumption patterns, which is why personalized service plans offer the best path to optimal money savings. APS recognizes this diversity by providing various plan options tailored to different household needs and usage habits. By visiting aps.com/plans, customers can explore these alternatives and select the option that best aligns with their lifestyle. Many homeowners discover that simply switching to a more appropriate plan yields immediate financial benefits without requiring significant behavioral changes. The website also features interactive tools that help predict potential savings based on historical usage patterns.
Beyond plan selection, APS offers valuable savings tips through their dedicated resource center at aps.com/tips. These recommendations help homeowners implement energy-efficient practices appropriate for Arizona’s conditions. As a utility provider serving nearly 1.3 million customers across 11 Arizona counties, APS maintains a strong commitment to clean energy while delivering reliable service. Their current energy mix is already 50% clean, with plans to achieve 100% clean power by 2050. This environmental commitment, coupled with practical money savings guidance, positions APS as a valuable partner for homeowners seeking to reduce their AC bills effectively while supporting sustainability efforts in their community.
