As summer fades and fall arrives, you may notice changes in your electric bill. Here’s what to expect and how to prepare: Cooling drops, heating rises: Your air conditioning use will decrease, but heating needs may start increasing, especially in late fall. Shorter daylight means more lighting: With fewer daylight hours, you’ll likely use indoor lights earlier in the evening. Switching to LED bulbs can help reduce the impact. Holiday decorating ups energy use: Halloween and early holiday lights can add to your electricity consumption. Using timers helps control costs. Appliance use shifts: You might start using appliances like ovens, space heaters or humidifiers more frequently.  Understanding these changes could help you plan and manage your energy use better.

Even as the days get shorter, making the most of natural light can reduce your energy use and brighten your home: Open curtains and blinds: Let sunlight flood your rooms during the day to reduce the need for artificial lighting. Keep windows clean: Dirty windows block sunlight. Clean the panes inside and out to maximize light penetration. Choose light-colored furniture and paint: Light walls, floors and furnishings reflect daylight, helping rooms feel brighter. Arrange furniture near windows: Place work or reading areas close to windows to take advantage of natural light.  Consider skylights or solar tubes: If possible, adding these features can bring in extra daylight year-round. Using natural daylight not only saves electricity but also improves mood and well-being. Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts.

It’s almost leaf-blowing season. Before you power up your leaf-blower and other electrical outdoor tools, check your outlets and cords for safety. Here’s how: Inspect outlets: Look for cracked or broken covers and replace any that are damaged to prevent water from getting inside and behind them. Test GFCI outlets: Outdoor outlets should be ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). Press the “test” and “reset” buttons monthly to ensure they’re working. If your home is older, contact a licensed electrician to find out if yours are GFCIs. Examine extension cords: Check cords for frays, cracks or exposed wires. Damaged cords should be replaced immediately. Use outdoor-rated cords: Only use cords labeled for outdoor use. They are designed to withstand weather conditions. Keep connections dry: Avoid plugging cords into outlets when raining or the ground is wet. Use outlet covers and keep cords elevated off wet ground. Regularly inspecting your outdoor outlets helps prevent hazards like shocks or fires. A little maintenance now can keep your fall projects safe and trouble-free.

If you want to keep the hot summer heat out of your air-conditioned home, keep the sunlight out. Close your blinds and shades, and your home will feel cooler and more comfortable. Any heat that comes in with the sunshine will compete with the cool air your central air conditioning system is pumping out, making your rooms feel hotter and tempting you to lower the thermostat. Closing curtains and other window coverings during daylight hours will save your a/c from having to work so hard, which could make it operate more efficiently and even extend its life.

Your family might use your covered outdoor porch or patio more often this summer if you keep the temperature out there cooler by installing a ceiling fan. Outdoor ceiling fans come with ratings like “damp” or “wet” that indicate what kind of climate—like humid or rainy—they can operate in safely. Never install an indoor fan on your outdoor porch; it’s not safe. Instead, choose one specifically made for outdoor use with all-weather blades, corrosion- and rust-resistant paint finishes, and a motor casing featuring a waterproof seal. Overhead fans are a great addition to a porch, sunroom or even a garage. Even in outdoor rooms with extra sunlight, a fan can circulate the air, making anyone sitting or standing nearby feels cool and comfortable.

The bathroom is one of the few places in the home where electrical appliances and water have a great chance to meet—and a great chance to cause electrical shock or death. If you have kids, the bathroom can be a room of hazards—electrical or otherwise— waiting to happen. But it doesn’t have to be. Try these tips to dampen the danger: Use a bathmat with a non-skid bottom on the floor and use a non-slip mat or decals on the floor of the tub. Keep medications and vitamins in their original containers to avoid confusion and always choose child-resistant caps. Keep medications and cleaning supplies locked away if small children are around. Make a storage space under the counter and out of the way for hair dryers, curling irons and other electrical appliances that could be hazardous with water contact. Educate children on the dangers of mixing water and electricity. Use nightlights in the hallway and bathroom for easy bathroom access at night. Don’t leave children unattended during bath time. If you have toddlers, use toilet seat locks to prevent drowning. Check the temperature of bath water and fully fill the tub before putting children in. Tap water can instantly scald if you let it run too hot. Lower the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to guard against burns but keep bathwater at 100 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Use only electrical appliances or cords that bear the label of an independent testing laboratory like Underwriters Laboratories.

School may be out for the summer, but here’s a test: On a hot day, will setting the thermostat at a very low temperature cool your house faster? If you answered yes, you’re in need of summer school. Lowering the thermostat beyond the temperature you desire only makes your air conditioner run longer, not faster. You could end up paying more money for an uncomfortably chilly house. Here are a few more lessons to add to your air conditioning know-how: Want to pay to be cool only when you’re at home? Install a programmable thermostat, which lets you set the thermostat higher for hours when the house is empty, but lower during your at-home hours. It takes less energy to re-cool your home when you return than it does to keep it cool while you’re gone. Set the thermostat at 78 degrees. You’ll save about 15 percent on your cooling bill over a 72-degree setting, while remaining comfortable. Keep lamps and other heat-emitting devices—like TVs and large electronics—away from the thermostat. Such appliances can trick the thermostat into “thinking” the air is warmer than it really is so it should keep running when the house is already cool. The morning sun might help you wake up, but don’t forget to close your curtains and window shades before you leave the house for the day to keep the sun’s heat out. If you use room air conditioners, make sure they fit snugly into window frames, and close all heating ducts.

Hot summer days put people at risk for heat-related illnesses and can exacerbate existing medical conditions. Doctors recommend you spend the hottest part of the day indoors enjoying the air conditioning. But for those whose homes don’t have air conditioning or who can’t afford to turn it on, the risk is acute. That’s especially true for the elderly or ill, who could be at risk for heat stroke or even death. If you know someone whose house might get too hot to handle this summer, call them or stop by to check on them every day. Use a neighborhood association directory or your own personal contacts to arrange phone calls during the summer months to elderly neighbors or those who live alone. Encourage neighbors or family members to use air conditioners during the hottest part of the day or spend it in an air conditioned public place, like a mall or library. If you find someone in medical distress because of the heat, call 911. Some states and counties encourage residents to help keep their neighbors safe through organized campaigns. Your local Salvation Army or hospital can tell you about programs already in your area. Or you can start one in your own neighborhood. Enlist the support of your local politicians or non-profit organizations to arrange a countywide system. One phone call could save a life.

Summer brings longer days and more natural light, but that doesn’t mean your lighting habits can’t affect your energy use. Efficient lighting choices and smarter habits can help you take full advantage of daylight while minimizing electricity costs. Make the most of your summer lighting. Here’s how: • Use daylight whenever possible. Open curtains or blinds during the morning and early evening. • If you’re still using old incandescent light bulbs, replace them with LEDs, which use up to 80% less energy and last longer. • Install dimmer switches or motion sensors to reduce wasted light in unused spaces. • Encourage kids to turn off lights when leaving a room. • Use outdoor solar lights or energy-efficient landscape lighting for evening illumination. • Keep light fixtures and bulbs clean to ensure maximum brightness and efficiency. Small changes in lighting can lead to noticeable reductions in energy use, especially when lights stay on longer during family-filled summer days. Smart lighting doesn’t just save energy—it creates a more comfortable, better-lit home environment.