As spring’s cooler temperatures give way to hot summer days, Pepco is helping customers prepare for higher energy bills with efficiency programs and money-saving strategies.
The utility company is encouraging customers to take advantage of energy efficiency programs and follow specific tips to lower costs as rising temperatures increase energy usage.
Energy Saving Tips
- Check the thermostat. Customers should keep their thermostat temperature higher during the summertime, if health permits. According to the Department of Energy, you can save as much as 10% a year on cooling costs by simply turning the thermostat up 7-10 degrees for eight hours a day from its normal setting.
- Have air conditioning unit serviced and cleaned. Systems should be inspected and maintained by a professional to ensure everything is running smoothly. According to the Department of Energy, customers should check filters every month and replace them if necessary or follow the HVAC manufacturer instructions.
- Keep cool air in and hot air out. Use caulking or weather-stripping around drafty windows and doors to help prevent warm air from entering your home.
- Keep the hot sun out. Invest in awnings or swap out current curtains for a blackout option. This provides additional shade and keeps the home cool. If this isn’t in the budget, keeping the current blinds or shades closed during the hottest times of the day will also help reduce cooling costs.
Additional saving tips are available at pepco.com/SmartTips.
Digital Tools for Energy Management
Pepco offers several online tools through customer accounts to help monitor and reduce energy consumption:
- Hourly usage feature — customers can identify increased energy use by the hour and adjust at higher usage times, such as adjusting the thermostat a few degrees and turning off unnecessary lights or devices.
- High usage alerts — notifies customers when their usage goes beyond a set level, allowing customers to better predict bills and adjust energy usage with customized energy saving tips to keep costs down.
- See projected monthly bill at any time — a customer can see at any time what their bill is projected to be based on current usage, giving customers more transparency into their bill and allowing customers to adjust energy use and prepare for their next bill.
- Home energy report and tips — customers can receive energy-use reports with tips customized to their home or business that can help them save energy and money.
Maryland Energy Efficiency Programs
Pepco Maryland customers can also take advantage of energy efficiency programs to help save energy and money, including:
- Quick Home Energy Check-up:
- A Quick Home Energy Check-up is a no-cost program typically completed in about an hour. A certified Energy Analyst will do a visual walk through of the customer’s home and may install energy-saving products such as a smart thermostat, LED bulbs, and more — all at no cost, and provide a customized report with recommendations on home improvements to save more.
- To sign up for a Quick Home Energy Check-up customers can visit pepco.com/QuickHome and click on “Request Appointment.”
- Home Performance with Energy Star:
- This program offers a more in-depth home assessment and can provide additional insights into the efficiency of home systems, like HVAC and insulation. This program is a good fit for customers who are interested in getting recommendations on home improvements that can help them save overtime.
- For $100, customers can receive a comprehensive assessment of their home’s systems by a specially trained participating contractor (a $400 value) and receive a customized report listing recommendations on home improvements to increase savings.
- Customers are eligible for up to $10,000 in rebates for completing recommended upgrades. Plus, customers can receive federal tax credits of 30% of the project cost through the Inflation Reduction Act.
District of Columbia Programs
While Pepco does not run energy efficiency programs in the District, the company is partnering with the District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility, which offers programs to help District customers save energy and money. Examples of available programs include:
- Market Rate Residential Energy Efficiency & Electrification Rebate Programs
- All District residents, regardless of income, qualify for this program whether they live in single-family homes (four units or less) as well as individual owners of condos and co-ops that manage their own appliances and equipment. There’s also select equipment available for renters in apartments of all sizes.
- Customers can get rebates on Energy Star appliances, HVAC, smart thermostats and more. Customers can visit dcseu.com/residential-rebates to learn more.
- Affordable Home Electrification Program (AHEP)
- Income qualified District homeowners and renters in single-family homes (four units or less) can participate in this program. AHEP helps residents at no cost transition to efficient electric heating, cooling, water heating, and cooking systems to reduce emissions, increase comfort and air quality, and, when combined with Solar for All benefits, reduce total energy costs.
- Customers can learn how to apply online, by mail, or in person at dcseu.com/ElectrifyMyHome.
More details about these resources and additional energy assistance and savings programs are available at pepco.com/BillSupport.