PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – It’s summertime, which means some people can expect a spike in their energy bill.  

It’s a general rule of thumb that the more energy you use, the higher your power bill will be. 

“Summertime brings in hotter temperatures, and customers tend to run their air conditioning units much more to stay cool and comfortable in their homes,” Cherise Newsome, a Dominion Energy Spokesperson, said.  

Newsome said the main thing to do to save money during this time is to reduce your energy usage in your appliances. The main culprit is usually the air conditioning unit.  

She says to get it serviced frequently to make sure it’s running efficiently and consider turning up your thermostat to save a few bucks.  

“If you can adjust it and tolerate just a few more degrees warmer, say 73, 75, even 78 degrees, then your air conditioning unit doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain that cool temperature in your home,” Newsome said.  

Newsome said it’s also important to know where you are consuming energy the most. That’s where Dominions Virtual Energy Audit Quiz comes in, which is a free online tool that narrows it all down.  

“It asks you about your light bulb usage. It asks you about drafts in your home, windows and doors and cracks that may be around them, and using the information that you put into that form, Dominion energy will send you a kit at no upfront cost, to help you weatherize and improve energy efficiency in your home,” Newsome said.  

That kit could have energy efficient lightbulbs, caulk that can be used to seal up cracks around doors and windows, pipe insulation and door sweeps to block out drafts.  

“It will include different types of items that can help you use your appliances much more efficiently, which will reduce your energy use and can have a significant impact on your energy bill,” Newsome said.  

There’s also bill payment assistance available during the summer months where dominion customers can get up to 300 dollars off to help offset high bills. You can click here to find out more information.  

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