AES Ohio, a subsidiary of The AES Corporation, is advising customers on how to manage their energy usage during the summer months. The utility company highlights that bills often rise in hot weather due to increased energy consumption from air conditioning and other appliances.
Recent summers in West Central Ohio have seen temperatures frequently surpassing 90°F, with heat index values reaching between 100-110°F. In 2023, Dayton experienced its hottest year on record according to the Dayton Daily News.
As a summer-peaking utility, AES Ohio sees its highest electricity demand between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM during these hotter months. The company notes that heating and cooling represent over half of a home's energy use, with variations in billing cycle days potentially affecting usage.
AES Ohio provides several tips for reducing cooling costs. Customers are encouraged to set thermostats back by at least eight degrees when away or sleeping and to consider smart thermostats available through the AES Ohio Marketplace. It advises against setting thermostats lower than desired as it does not cool homes faster but rather prolongs system operation unnecessarily. Ceiling fans can allow thermostat settings to be raised while maintaining comfort, and shading windows facing south and west during peak heat times can also help.
For additional savings advice, customers can visit https://www.aes-ohio.com/hot-weather-tips.
AES Ohio serves more than 539,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers across a 6,000-square-mile area in West Central Ohio. Its operations include maintaining over 1,600 miles of transmission lines and thousands of miles of distribution lines feeding numerous substations.
More information about AES Ohio's initiatives can be found at aes-ohio.com or via their social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and LinkedIn.