Georgia Power offers its top 10 energy-saving tips to help reduce the impact of hot weather on bills

ATLANTA, Sept. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- As high temperatures in Georgia continue in the 90s, Georgia Power offers its top 10 tips to help customers keep their homes cool and reduce the impact of the hot weather on power bills. As part of continued efforts to help customers save energy and money, the company has made it easy to find energy efficiency solutions and advice at www.GeorgiaPower.com.  

Tips, Tools & Resources
Georgia Power offers tips, tools and resources that can help all customers save money and energy during the heat of summer, and throughout the year. Hundreds of easy energy tips, whether you own a home or rent, are available at www.GeorgiaPower.com/Save.

More simple summer tips to save money and energy include:

1. Set your programmable thermostat to 78°F in the summer and 68°F in the winter, for energy-efficient results. Also utilizing your ceiling fan can make your space feel 5°F cooler, keeping you comfortable and relaxed.
2. Change standard air filters once a month, or pleated filters once every three months, to help your system run more efficiently.
3. Caulk and weather-strip around your windows and doors. If the caulking is cracked, or the weather-stripping is damaged or peeling, replace the old material.
4. Turn off lights when they're not in use. To help you remember, try leaving eye-catching reminders next to light switches and doorways.
5. Use a smart power strip or unplug electronics when they are not in use to save money and energy.
6. Look for an ENERGY STAR® label when purchasing new appliances and electronics to save on your energy bill.
7. Keep air vents clear of obstruction to help your heating and cooling system operate more efficiently.
8. Replace your current incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient LED lights. ENERGY STAR-certified LED light bulbs consume up to 75% less energy than conventional incandescent lights, helping you save money and resources.
9. Wash full loads of clothes with cold water and avoid over-drying. Also, clean the lint trap before every load.
10. Set your water heater's temperature to 120°F in unconditioned spaces and wrap your electric water heater with an insulated blanket for additional savings.

Online Energy Checkup
Georgia Power's quick and easy online energy checkup provides a customized report to help you understand your energy use and find ways to save money. Energy Checkup can use your actual power bills to give you a customized report. Just enter information about your home and family to measure how you use energy.  

Home Energy Improvement Program (HEIP)
The Home Energy Improvement Program (HEIP) helps Georgia Power customers reduce energy use, save on energy costs and improve the indoor air quality and comfort of their homes. Residential customers can earn rebates from Georgia Power for implementing and installing qualifying energy savings improvements.

Simple summer tips to save money and energy include setting manual thermostats to 78 degrees in the summer for peak efficiency and make the most of programmable thermostats, which help decrease energy use based on your lifestyle. Also, it's important to have your air conditioner professionally serviced to ensure it's running efficiently. Change filters and trim plants around outside units so they can receive proper air flow.

Additionally, Georgia Power's My Power Usage program, a free service-connected to Georgia Power online accounts, allows customers to track their daily energy use online, project their monthly bill and stay within a set energy budget.

Conduct a Rate Plan Review
Georgia Power offers a variety of flexible and customizable rate plans to fit every lifestyle. Ensuring that you are on the most economical rate plan for your use is one of the most effective ways to keep your energy costs low.

Customers can explore Georgia Power rate plans here and at www.GeorgiaPower.com/Pricing, including:

• Smart Usage – This plan can provide savings by implementing small changes in how and when you use electricity. Electric appliances such as clothes dryers, ovens and dishwashers are some of the biggest energy users and, by using these appliances at different times, you can reduce your monthly energy bill.
• FlatBill^® – This plan offers a 12-month fixed contract price that does not fluctuate when your power usage does – eliminating surprises and preventing higher bills during the summer months.
• Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) – A great option for electric vehicle (EV) drivers who can charge their EVs during nighttime hours and take advantage of lower-priced energy.
• Nights & Weekends – If you can shift when you use electricity during the summer months to the evening, the Nights & Weekends rate is for you. By changing when you wash dishes, do laundry or cool your home, savings add up annually.
• PrePay – One of Georgia Power's newest rate plans, this option allows you to pay as you go and add funds as needed. This plan requires no deposit, credit check or reconnection fees.

Bill Payment Assistance
Georgia Power also offers bill payment assistance. The company works with customers to coordinate payment arrangements and discounts such as the Low-Income Senior Citizens Discount, and can connect them with community organizations that may be able to help them pay their bill including The Salvation Army's Project SHARE program. Additional information is available at www.GeorgiaPower.com/Assistance or via phone at 888-660-5890.

About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.6 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is consistently recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).

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SOURCE Georgia Power