SWEPCO offers some tips to save on hot summer days

When the temperature rises, so can energy bills. Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO), an American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) company, offers 10 tips to help its customers manage both the heat and their electric bill:

• Turn off lights and electronics when not in use.

• Replace incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STARcertified LEDs.

• Pull the plug on devices, like phone chargers, when not in use. These still consume energy even when turned off.

• Use smart power strips for electronics like computers and televisions. These can sense when a device is turned off or not used and will automatically shut off the power.

• Close blinds and drapes during the day to keep the heat out.

• Save up to 10% on cooling costs by increasing your thermostat’s temperature setting by seven to 10 degrees Fahrenheit higher for at least eight hours a day.

• Replace air conditioner filters. Clean filters can lower air conditioner energy consumption by up to 15%.

• Use ceiling fans to cool you while in a room. Turn the fan off when leaving.

• Caulk, weather-strip and insulate windows and doors wherever air leaks are found.

• Use large appliances, such as a dishwasher, clothes washer and dryer, as late in the evening as possible. These appliances add heat to a home and make an HVAC system work harder.

For more ways to save, visit SWEPCO.com/Save. SWEPCO, an American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) company, serves more than 543,000 customers in northwest and central Louisiana, northeast Texas and the Texas Panhandle, and western Arkansas. SWEPCO’s headquarters are in Shreveport, La.