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Independence, MO —
Yes, Friday’s weather was mild.
But let’s not forget that in the not-so-distant past, temperatures reached near or above 100 degrees for nearly all of July.
Because of that, along with the 5 percent rate increase that went into effect on July 1, Independence Power & Light officials want to remind customers that they’ll likely experience a higher price on their next bill.
According to IPL records, this July was the hottest month on record since July 1980, with IPL’s energy requirements for July 2012 as the second highest ever, next only to August 2007. IPL experienced a record number of sales of kilowatt hours in July.
“... We set a new record for July monthly energy use,” IPL Deputy Director Paul Mahlberg said in an email. “If the high temperatures continue, we will set new energy use records for the summer period of June through August.”
IPL officials have already begun receiving phone calls about high usage and its effect on customers’ bills. Mary Kay Villegas-Alitz, IPL customer program administrator, said many homes’ air conditioning units are undersized and rarely shut off in hot weather. She suggested the following tips for residential customers – both homeowners and renters – to get the most of their cooling system while reducing some of their electric bills:
• Have your air conditioner serviced, if it hasn’t been recently. If residents can’t afford that, Villegas-Alitz said, they can go outside and make sure debris and trash haven’t been sucked into the AC unit or are blocking it from working properly. Also, trim bushes around the unit. Get it cleaned, and make sure the filters are clean, too. Villegas-Alitz suggested checking and even replacing the filters monthly.
• Close your drapes when the sun is out. Make sure your AC vents aren’t blocked in your home, either.
• Run ceiling fans and desktop fans to circulate the air. Even setting the AC unit a degree or two higher can help keep costs down on electric bills, Villegas-Alitz said.
“Our concern is that when someone gets their bill (Friday), when it’s a beautiful day, it may not hit them that when this billing period occurred, you had record number of days over 100,” said Gerry McReynolds, IPL support services manager. “We know that the customers are going to get these high bills, and we’re trying to help them with the sticker shock.”
If customers are unable to pay their high bills in full, they should immediately contact the city’s utilities customer service department, rather than wait until someone shows up on their doorstep to disconnect the utilities because of missed payment, McReynolds said.
Villegas-Alitz said she keeps in mind IPL Director Leon Daggett’s popular saying: “Use what you need, but need what you use.”
“We just have to be more mindful – really, as a nation – on using energy, water, any of our resources,” Villegas-Alitz said. “I think sometimes people aren’t mindful, and then the bill comes.”
Yes, Friday’s weather was mild.
But let’s not forget that in the not-so-distant past, temperatures reached near or above 100 degrees for nearly all of July.
Because of that, along with the 5 percent rate increase that went into effect on July 1, Independence Power & Light officials want to remind customers that they’ll likely experience a higher price on their next bill.
According to IPL records, this July was the hottest month on record since July 1980, with IPL’s energy requirements for July 2012 as the second highest ever, next only to August 2007. IPL experienced a record number of sales of kilowatt hours in July.
“... We set a new record for July monthly energy use,” IPL Deputy Director Paul Mahlberg said in an email. “If the high temperatures continue, we will set new energy use records for the summer period of June through August.”
IPL officials have already begun receiving phone calls about high usage and its effect on customers’ bills. Mary Kay Villegas-Alitz, IPL customer program administrator, said many homes’ air conditioning units are undersized and rarely shut off in hot weather. She suggested the following tips for residential customers – both homeowners and renters – to get the most of their cooling system while reducing some of their electric bills:
• Have your air conditioner serviced, if it hasn’t been recently. If residents can’t afford that, Villegas-Alitz said, they can go outside and make sure debris and trash haven’t been sucked into the AC unit or are blocking it from working properly. Also, trim bushes around the unit. Get it cleaned, and make sure the filters are clean, too. Villegas-Alitz suggested checking and even replacing the filters monthly.
• Close your drapes when the sun is out. Make sure your AC vents aren’t blocked in your home, either.
• Run ceiling fans and desktop fans to circulate the air. Even setting the AC unit a degree or two higher can help keep costs down on electric bills, Villegas-Alitz said.
“Our concern is that when someone gets their bill (Friday), when it’s a beautiful day, it may not hit them that when this billing period occurred, you had record number of days over 100,” said Gerry McReynolds, IPL support services manager. “We know that the customers are going to get these high bills, and we’re trying to help them with the sticker shock.”
If customers are unable to pay their high bills in full, they should immediately contact the city’s utilities customer service department, rather than wait until someone shows up on their doorstep to disconnect the utilities because of missed payment, McReynolds said.
Villegas-Alitz said she keeps in mind IPL Director Leon Daggett’s popular saying: “Use what you need, but need what you use.”
“We just have to be more mindful – really, as a nation – on using energy, water, any of our resources,” Villegas-Alitz said. “I think sometimes people aren’t mindful, and then the bill comes.”
