Summer is here, and the temperature will be climbing. When you are looking at your thermostat this year, keep a few things in mind.

Raising your thermostat during the summer can help you save energy and reduce your electricity bills. When you set your thermostat to a higher temperature, your air conditioning unit will not need to work as hard to maintain a comfortable temperature, resulting in less energy consumption. Raising your thermostat can also help reduce your demand usage, which refers to the amount of electricity your home consumes at any given time.

When your air conditioning unit is running, it consumes a significant amount of energy to cool your home. By raising your thermostat, you reduce the frequency your air conditioner turns on, which in turn reduces the demand for electricity.

Your cooperative’s energy bill has two parts, the energy charge and the demand charge. In the summer, the peak demand is typically set during the hottest part of the day when many people are running their air conditioners. By raising your thermostat and reducing your demand usage during these peak periods, you can save your electric cooperative money which allows us in turn to pass those savings back to the membership.

Additionally, raising your thermostat can be beneficial for the environment. When you use less energy, you reduce your carbon footprint and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

It’s important to note that you should still set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature that meets your needs. If you raise your thermostat too high, you may become uncomfortable and end up using other methods to cool down, such as opening windows or using fans, which could offset any energy savings you achieve by raising your thermostat.

It’s best to slowly find the best temperature for you and your family. Slowly bump up your thermostat until you become uncomfortable then back it back down a bit. Finding that perfect temperature that allows you to be comfortable while saving money is its own satisfaction.

Your annual capital credit allocation amount should appear on your bill in the coming months. This figure shows you how much of the money you have paid to Clay Electric Cooperative has been assigned to our margins for 2022 and will be paid back to you as capital credits in the future. Be on the lookout for your annual allocation on your bill, and while you are on the lookout, keep your eyes peeled for your member number in the center section of this magazine.