High Bill Help

Looking for ways to save on your electric bill this summer? We're here to help with tips and tricks to lower your energy use and keep your home comfortable.

Stay cool and save with 3 easy actions

Summer’s heat can send your electricity use soaring. Here are three easy actions you can take to keep your home cool and your costs down.  

Track your energy use

  • Sign in to your PGE account online to see your energy use by the day, week or hour. Look for “My Energy Use” to see where you use energy and where you can save.  

  • Fill out the Home Energy Analysis quiz to get customized recommendations for your home.

Take advantage of cooler outdoor air

  • If it's safe, open windows during cooler nights and mornings and use a fan to draw in that cool air. 

  • When it gets to about 75 to 80 degrees out, close windows, doors and window coverings to keep cool air in — and use an indoor fan. Running a portable window fan instead of an AC unit at night can save an average home an estimated monthly savings of $32. 

  • Run appliances such as ovens, stovetops, dishwashers and clothes dryers at night or in the early morning. 

Maximize cool and minimize costs with fans and window AC

  • When paired with open windows, fans bring in cool morning or evening air. But once windows are closed, use fans only when someone’s in the room.  

  • On most ceiling fans, the counterclockwise direction pushes air down, which is what you want in summer, so that the air blows across your skin, creating a cooling effect. Check your fan’s specific instructions or do a quick online search to find out how to adjust the direction your fan is spinning.  

  • Choose the right size AC unit for your room or home to avoid wasting energy. 

  • Consider upgrading to an ENERGY STAR unit if your equipment is old or inefficient.  

  • Keep your window units running until it’s cool enough to switch to fans or open windows. Remember, your AC works best and costs less when it runs steadily, so avoid turning it on and off too often. 

More tips to cool your home for less

  • Set the thermostat 10 degrees higher than normal if you’re going to be away for more than half the day. Your cooling system will run less frequently, but your home won’t get super hot.

  • If you're headed out of town for longer than a day, go ahead and turn off your cooling system to save energy. If you have a programmable thermostat, you can set it to start cooling an hour or so before you return so you arrive to a comfortable home.

  • Clean or change your furnace filter every three months, and get regular tune-ups to keep your system running efficiently.

  • When cooling the whole house, be sure to keep all windows and doors closed.

  • When it’s time to get a new system, consider a high-efficiency heat pump for year-round efficiency.

Close curtains on sun-facing windows or use awnings during the day and when running AC units. White window shades, drapes or blinds can reflect heat away from the house.

  • Make sure your ducts are sealed or insulated, and use weather-stripping or caulking around doors, windows, pipes and cracks. No matter how efficient your heating and cooling system, you’ll waste energy and your home will feel drafty if it isn’t weatherized.

  • Air travels in and out of your house through every little gap and crack. Insulating and sealing your home’s shell minimizes those air leaks and keeps your heated or cooled air insideCommunity Energy Project can help.

  • Set central air thermostats a bit higher. Even a difference of 5 degrees can result in an estimated monthly savings of about $13.

  • Avoid putting lamps or TVs that emit heat near the thermostat.

  • Make sure the thermostat is accurate. Walk through the house with an instant-read cooking thermometer to see if the air temperature matches the setting.

  • Upgrade to a programmable or smart thermostat to help save season after season.

  • Lower the water heater temperature to 120 degrees and turn off zonal heat at the breaker panel instead of at the thermostat.

  • Avoid cooking with a stove or conventional oven; instead use a microwave or barbecue outdoors.

  • Limit use of incandescent lighting and consider switching to cooler LEDs. They last longer and use up to 85% less energy.

Summer guests or additional people home during the day can increase energy use for hot water, cooking and cooling. New appliances or air conditioning units, big screen TVs, pools, hot tubs and fountains can also increase costs from the previous year.

Want more tips? We’ve got ‘em: See No-Cost & Low-Cost Tips.

Our energy tracking tools can help you save

Use our free online tools for renters and homeowners to see when and how you use electricity, analyze your bill and get a custom savings plan.

Income-Qualified Bill Discount

You may qualify to pay less for your energy.