The sun is shining, there’s a nice breeze in the air and all of the dreaded pollen has washed away. Late spring is truly one of the best times of year in North Carolina! As you adjust to the changing seasons, keep the following energy-saving tips in mind to help you save money on your next electricity bill.
Join Piedmont Electric’s Money-Saving Programs
The easiest way to save more on your monthly bill during the spring is to let your co-op do the heavy lifting for you. By joining our energy-saving programs, you’ll have more control over your bill, regardless of what the weather is like outside. Our time-of-day rates allow you to pay a lower rate for off-peak energy use, and you’ll get bill credits by joining our smart thermostat savings program* and load management programs.
Explore all of these money-saving options and more by visiting pemc.coop/smart-energy/.
*Our smart thermostat savings program requires a Nest thermostat and home Wi-Fi to participate.
![family on couch](https://pemc.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Family-on-couch-scaled-1.jpeg)
Cook Your Dinner Outside
Take advantage of the beautiful weather and save energy in the process!
Instead of using electricity to power your stove and oven, cook your dinner outside on the grill. Not only will it help you save money, but it will also taste delicious.
![](https://pemc.coop/wp-content/smush-webp/2023/04/grill-in-garden-2023-11-27-05-04-43-utc-800x800.jpg.webp)
Use Ceiling Fans to Help You Stay Comfortable
If you want to stay cool while being mindful of your energy use, ceiling fans can do the job. When you turn on your fan, you can raise your thermostat by a few degrees without sacrificing your own comfort. Make sure that you have the blades set to rotate counterclockwise and remember that fans cool people, not rooms so turn them off when you leave the room.
![a living room with wood flooring and sliding glass doors leading to the patio area in front of the house](https://pemc.coop/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/a-living-room-with-furniture-and-a-ceiling-fan-2023-11-27-05-09-13-utc-e1704489295460.jpg)
Let the Outside In
We’re lucky to get plenty of mild days during the spring which you can use to your advantage.
On comfortable days and nights, turn off your air conditioner and open your windows to let the cool air inside so you can save on excess cooling costs.
![opening window in spring](https://pemc.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/pregnant-woman-opening-window-at-home-2023-11-27-05-27-19-utc-1.jpg)
Adjust Your Water Heater
Now that it’s warmer, you can adjust your water heater by a few degrees while still staying comfortable in the shower. The Department of Energy recommends setting your water heater at 120° F. You might be surprised at how a small adjustment like that can make a big impact on your bill! To save even more, join our water heater load management program at pemc.coop/load-management.
![laundry with family](https://pemc.coop/wp-content/smush-webp/2023/04/boys-doing-laundry-with-father-watching-2022-05-01-23-53-34-utc-800x800.jpg.webp)