Higher temperatures, increased usage and higher fuel costs could lead to rise in summer bills

New Orleans, La. – Entergy New Orleans is equipping customers with ways to control energy usage in anticipation of higher electric bills this summer.

With rising temperatures, customers typically use more electricity in the summer months when they run air conditioning units, which can account for more than half of a monthly bill. In fact, the typical customer in the New Orleans area uses about 63 percent more electricity in July as they do in May.

Historically, customers also see higher fuel cost on summer bills. Dollar for dollar, these costs (noted as line item Fuel and Purchase Power) pay for the fuel that generates electricity.

“At Entergy, we are committed to keeping you informed and helping you save money,” said Melonie Hall, director of customer service at Entergy New Orleans, Inc. “Our electricity rates are well below the national average, and we are taking steps to ensure that our customers have the information they need to help manage their energy usage. Using energy more efficiently can lead to lower energy bills.”

Entergy New Orleans offers a variety of tips and tools that can help customers lower their energy costs at entergyneworleans.com/savemoney. The site features information and videos grouped into easy-to-use categories known as myAdvisor, myHome and myResources.

The myAdvisor feature, hosted by “Tom,” helps customers better understand their bills and offers answers to common questions. The myHome section, hosted by the “Anderson family,” uses an online representation of a house to provide tips (including graphics and videos) on how customers can save money in each room. The myResources page is an online library that features additional tips and actions that customers can take to lower their monthly bill.

Entergy New Orleans customers also have access to a variety of energy efficiency programs through Energy Smart. The program helps customers save by offering energy audits, A/C tune-ups, ceiling and wall insulation, duct and home leakage sealing, solar water heating and installation of compact fluorescent light bulbs. More information can be found at energysmartnola.info.

Customers can also reduce energy consumption by making a few simple changes around their home or business.

Examples include:

• Setting the thermostat to 78 or the highest comfortable temperature. Each degree cooler than 78 can increase a bill as much as 3 percent.

• Keep air conditioner filters clean. Aluminum mesh filters should be washed and fiberglass filters should be replaced monthly.

• Close shades and drapes on the sunny side of the house during the day to keep light and heat out.

• Use kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans to remove excess heat and humidity caused by cooking, laundering and bathing.

• Place window and central air conditioning units on the shady or north side of your home when possible. When using window units, shut doors to unused rooms, and close floor or wall registers used for heating.

Entergy New Orleans, Inc. is an electric and gas utility serving Orleans Parish and is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. The company provides electricity to more than 160,000 customers and natural gas to more than 100,000 customers in Orleans Parish.

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