ASHLAND, Ky., June 24, 2021 – Summer is here bringing typical high temperatures, humidity and thunderstorms.  Air conditioning units have to work harder, but there are ways Kentucky Power customers can beat the heat.

“As temperatures climb, air conditioners use more energy to keep homes cool,” said Barry Nolen, Kentucky Power’s energy services advisor. “During extreme weather, customers may see spikes in their next bill. However, there are lots of ways customers can control their electric bills, even in the heat.”

There are many simple energy efficiency measures customers can put into place to save money without jeopardizing comfort, including:

• Repair and weather strip air leaks in the home; up to 25 percent of energy used to cool homes escapes via leaks.
• Maintain consistent temperatures and monitor your thermostat settings. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends a summer thermostat setting of 78 degrees.
• Install ceiling fans to circulate cool air throughout the house and to help cool people directly. This allows for a higher thermostat setting. Fans should spin counterclockwise in the summer to push air down and help create a cooling effect.
• Close drapes and shades on south-facing windows to block sun and heat during the day.
• Move furnishings away from floor or return air vents.
• Avoid using heat-producing appliances such as ovens or dryers during the hottest parts of the day.

Other energy savings ideas are available at https://kentuckypower.com/save/residential/learn/Cooling.aspx

Customers may also visit Kentucky Power’s YouTube page to view short energy efficiency videos. https://www.youtube.com/user/KentuckyPowerCo/videos

High temperatures can also trigger afternoon thunderstorms causing damage to property and increasing the probability of power outages. Lightning, wind and rain, all associated with thunderstorms, can be dangerous and trigger problems for Kentucky Power’s facilities. “In our heavily forested territory, most of our outages are caused by trees outside of our maintained rights of way,” said Everett Phillips, vice president – Distribution Operations. Customers should always have an emergency kit prepared for power outages and have contingency plans for family who may need to relocate during an extended outage. “We know outages are likely because of summer storms, but our crews are always ready to respond and can quickly call in outside assistance if needed.”

There are other ways Kentucky Power can help customers get information about their service. By downloading Kentucky Power’s mobile app, customers can report power outages and get updates on restoration. Information is also available at Kentuckypower.com

To avoid summer and winter bill spikes, Kentucky Power offers the average monthly payment plan, designed to level out bills over a 12-month cycle.

Customers who are experiencing financial hardship should contact the Company’s 24-hour Customer Operations Center at 1-800-572-1113.

Kentucky Power, with headquarters in Ashland, provides service to about 165,000 customers in 20 eastern Kentucky counties. It is an operating company in the AEP system.