Salt River Project (SRP) said that under its EZ-3 Price Plan, customers can use precooling to help keep homes cool and comfortable while keeping energy bills under control in the summer.

“The EZ-3 Price Plan is a great option for any customer who can plan ahead and limit energy use from 3 to 6 p.m. on weekdays when energy is priced higher," Cindy Marzofka, SRP’s director of marketing and brand management, said. "The rest of the time, including weekends and six holidays, are off-peak and priced significantly lower.”

Aprilee Pena and her family saved approximately $300 last year using the plan, putting the savings toward their summer vacation.

“We love the EZ-3 Price Plan," Pena said. "It is family friendly and easy to save. I plan ahead to keep the house comfortable by precooling. It is very easy to do with a programmable thermostat. I lower the temperature before the three hours, and then raise it from 3 to 6 p.m. Between 3 and 6, my air conditioner barely runs. If we really want to cool off, we jump in the pool or go out for a bit, and return in time for the AC to kick on again at 6 p.m.”

For the Pena family, a programmable thermostat allows them to precool their home, resulting in a savings of up to 50 percent on summer energy bills, SRP said.

SRP customers can try the EZ-3 plan for 90 days risk-free. If the first three bills exceed the cost of the basic plan, they can call SRP within 30 days of the third billing cycle and return to the basic plan.