Beating the heat is going to cost you more money

By Melissa Westphal

BusinessRockford.com

That twinge you felt turning on the air conditioner is universal.

Consumers are adding fatter electricity bills to the growing list of costs — expensive gas and pricey food — draining their wallets this summer.

ComEd’s usage peaks during the summer because of air conditioning use, with the total demand growing about 2 percent each year.

Communications manager Judy Rader said the company is delivering more power to customers than ever because bigger residences are coming equipped with central air conditioning, computers, large-screen TVs and modern appliances.

The average residential household’s electricity usage increased by 18 percent from 1995 to 2006, ComEd says, and five counties in ComEd’s service territory are among the fastest-growing in the nation.

ComEd offers energy assistance through CARE and its Summer Assistance Program, which provides bill credits of $30 starting this month to qualified low-income customers. Gov. Rod Blagojevich authorized up to $10 million for summer electricity-bill payment assistance for which low-income residents can apply starting July 7.

Budgeting is key to surviving the summer energy crunch, said Reid Nuttall, general manager of Firefly Restaurant & Bar, 5040 N. Second St., Loves Park.

The restaurant opened in the fall, so this will be its first full summer in business. When Nuttall’s family bought the building, they opted for newer, more efficient equipment.

They also found old energy bills for the space, the former Mayflower restaurant, so they could estimate what the summer cooling bills will be. But higher food prices and the recent tomato recall make financial planning more stressful.

“Rising energy costs are always a concern for small businesses,” Nuttall said. “But we’re a pretty environmentally conscious group here, so we save every dollar we can. Food prices have gone up, but we have a versatile menu and we can pick and choose what do have each week based on what’s available.”

The Citizens Utility Board is fighting a ComEd rate increase request of more than $300 million. Board spokesman Jim Chilsen said residents can help fight the request by signing petitions (at citizensutilityboard.org) and being more energy-efficient.

“Electricity prices in general are going through the roof, and Nicor’s gas prices are at record levels,” Chilsen said. “People call us and say ‘Why would I give ComEd more of my hard-earned money?’ People really need to plan for summer and think about winter.

“Never has energy efficiency looked so good.”

CUB’s Web site offers green tips and advice on decreasing phone bill charges, a tactic Chilsen said residents can use if they’re looking to cut finances in other areas to prepare for summer air-conditioning bills.

John McGee of Rockford recently replaced the heating and cooling systems at his house, which he moved into this past fall. The heat exchanger was cracked, causing the house to lose heat during the winter, and an air-conditioning coil was leaking freon.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t have a choice,” the Rockford firefighter said. “It was sweat all summer or replace it.”

The system was 16 years old, and McGee would have liked it to last longer. He had heating problems in the winter, but he waited to replace both systems for a more efficient installation. The units didn’t look like they had been maintained very well.

McGee said closing blinds and curtains to keep sunlight out helps lower summer energy bills for his family, and he turns the air conditioning off when they’re gone for an extended time.

April and May are the best months to check air-conditioning levels, said Dan O’Boyle of Norstar Heating & Cooling. He recommends turning the units on to make sure they work when it’s 75 or 80 degrees outside rather than 95 and humid. The temperature has to be 55 to 60 degrees to check refrigerant levels.

O’Boyle also recommends a spring tuneup, which runs about $99, for air-conditioning units each year, similar to an annual health physical or regular automobile checkups.

“People tend to neglect their heating and cooling systems and assume they will work without maintenance,” he said. “With regular maintenance, we can catch small problems before they become big problems.”

Air conditioners will work harder to produce cold air if filters are dirty or if parts aren’t working correctly, causing performance to slip and usage rates to increase. Investing in a more efficient system can save you money in the long run.

With regular maintenance, air conditioning systems can last 20 to 25 years, O’Boyle said. The units carry a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio rating. Most of the units Norstar replaces are eight or 10 SEER, while newer units are at minimum 13 SEER up to 21 SEER.

O’Boyle recommends setting the thermostat a few degrees higher to save money on bills and installing a programmable thermostat that allows you to change the temperature settings when you’re away from home or during the evening versus the morning.

“You can set it higher when you’re at work most of the day and have it decrease in temperature an hour before you get home so you can walk into a cool house.”

He also suggests turning the unit’s fan operation to “on” rather than “auto” because that setting constantly circulates air through the house rather than turning the unit off and on repeatedly. The fan motor doesn’t use much more electricity; O’Boyle compared the efficiency to a car getting better mileage on long trip rather than short drives.

Reach staff writer Melissa Westphal at 815-987-1341 or mwestpha@rrstar.com.

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How to get more bang for your buck
1. Replacing six standard incandescent light bulbs in high-use areas with comparable Energy Star compact fluorescent light bulbs could reduce your annual electric consumption by more than 4 percent.

2. Placing one lamp with an incandescent light bulb in your house with an automatic timer to operate four fewer hours a day could reduce the consumption by 1.5 percent.

3. Turning off your desktop computer and monitor for two additional hours a day could reduce consumption by up to 1.5 percent.

4. Raising your air conditioner thermostat by 5 degrees could save up to 1 percent on your annual electric bill.

5. Changing the filter monthly in your central air conditioner could save up to 2 percent on your annual bill.

6. Look for Energy Star labels when replacing or installing ceiling fans, window air conditioners or refrigerators.

Source: Commonwealth Edison

How to cool down
1. Ceiling fans help your air conditioner move cool air around the house.

2. Turn off the air conditioning and open your windows on cooler evenings or in mild weather.

3. Window fans work well when the sun goes down.

4. Close your shades to block out the sun’s heat during the daytime.

5. Turn your thermostat up by 5 degrees when leaving home for more than three hours.

6. Set your refrigerator to keep your food at 38 degrees. Don’t let the food compartment get too cold; it will freeze your fruits and vegetables and waste energy.

7. Keep your air conditioning duct vents clean and clear. Don’t block the cool air from getting to you.

8. Hot water shouldn’t be too hot. Have your water heater set no higher than 120 degrees. Water hotter than 120 degrees can be dangerous and cause burns.

9. Use your exhaust fans whenever you are in the bathroom. Showers can create excess moisture that will lead to mold or mildew. Also, use the exhaust fan in the kitchen when cooking.

Source: Keep Cool Illinois

Whom to contact
For assistance information, visit comedcare.com or keepcool.illinois.gov, or call 888-806-2273 or 877-411-9276.

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