Quick Tips to Beat the Heat

PORTLAND Ore. —With a heatwave rolling into Portland and the Willamette Valley this week, Pacific Power wants to remind customers how to beat the heat, use less energy, and stay ahead of possible high bill surprises down the road.

• Get some fresh air. Open your windows during the early morning and evening, and use fans to circulate the fresh air.
• Keep clear of the sun. Close blinds and drapes during the warmest parts of the day. Keeping the sunlight out of your home will keep it cooler.
• Be AC savvy. Set your air conditioner to 78 degrees when you’re home, and 85 when you’re away. Running your AC at temperatures lower than 78 degrees can increase your electricity bill by up to 8 percent. Also, keep inside air vents clear from furniture and other objects. Make sure the outside unit is free of obstructions.
• Reduce indoor heat. Push the use of heat-producing appliances such as ovens, dishwashers and clothes dryers to cooler parts of the day. Grilling outside, washing dishes by hand and air-drying clothes are great alternatives.
• Be safe. With sweltering temperatures, you need to protect yourself. Drink plenty of water and stay out of the sun as much as possible. Also check on any neighbors who may have limited contact with others and may need a fan or other assistance. Even with COVID-19 restrictions, we can look out for each other.
• If you are already worried about your power bill, call your electricity supplier now. They can set up a payment plan or refer you to local agencies for bill assistance. Pacific Power customers can call any time at 1-888-221-7070.
• Lastly, unplug. Make a conscious effort to unplug items not in use. Even if they’re not on, they’re drawing energy.

For more watt-smart energy and money-saving tips visit pacificpower.net.

About Pacific Power: Pacific Power is headquartered in Portland, and provides electric service to more than 770,000 customers in Oregon, Washington and California. It is part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the U.S., providing approximately 1.8 million customers with reliable, efficient energy.