MOHAVE COUNTY – July 2024 was the hottest on record in Lake Havasu City, driving electric bills higher for many local residents.
Daily high temperatures averaged 114 last month – five degrees hotter than normal – and reached 119 or higher on four days. This means air conditioners were working much harder – and using much more energy – to maintain the same indoor temperature.
Typical Lake Havasu City households used much more energy than usual last month – 1,946 kilowatt-hours (kWh), on average, compared to average July usage of 1,700 kWh and 1,480 kWh in July 2023. That drove average July bills to about $340 – an estimated $41 higher than they would have been in normal July weather. Customers who used more power than that saw even larger bills.
UniSource Energy Services rates are also higher than they were last summer after new rates took effect in February 2024 – the first base rate increase in more than seven years. While the new rates were expected to increase bills by about 10 percent over the course of a year, that represents an average of lower impacts in winter months and higher summer impacts that can be exacerbated by hotter than expected weather.
“We know our customers are seeing higher bills this summer, which can present financial challenges for households. We want our customers to know we stand ready to help them manage energy costs with programs and strategies to help ease the impact of summer bills,” said Lynne Petersen, Senior Director of Customer Experience.
There are steps customers can take now to help make their summer bills more manageable.
- Sign up for Budget Billing to avoid surprises on your bills. Our Budget Billing program helps smooth out your costs by allowing you to pay the same amount each month, no matter how hot it gets, based on your average annual usage. Instead of seeing spikes during the hottest time of the year, your consistent bill can help you better manage your budget. Read about the difference it made for another customer.
- Use your air conditioning efficiently. Set your thermostat at the highest comfortable temperature to minimize your cooling costs. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat at 78 degrees in the summer, although individual preferences may vary. For every degree you raise your thermostat, you can reduce your overall energy costs by about 2-3 percent. You can also use ceiling or oscillating fans to keep air moving so you feel cooler without increasing air conditioner use and make sure to use shades, blinds or curtains to keep sunlight out, especially during the afternoon in rooms facing west.
- Track your usage with My Energy Usage. With our online energy tracker, My Energy Usage, you can review your daily and hourly consumption and compare it to your historic usage. You can also review on-peak, off-peak, and demand usage for the month. Log in to your UniSource account online or via the mobile app then select the “Billing and Payment” tab. From there, select “My Energy Usage.” Learning about your energy habits and usage patterns can help you save energy and determine which of our pricing plans might be the best fit. Learn more about our Time-of-Use and other flexible pricing plans that reward energy conservation during times of high energy demand. Want to talk through your options? A member of our Customer Care team can walk you through whether any of our plans are a good fit for how you use energy. Call us at 1-877-837-4968.
- Tap into our other energy-saving programs. We offer a range of no-cost and low-cost ways to trim your energy use across your home, including through savings on energy-efficient services and products:
- Energy-saving tips for every room in your home, including a video series and other simple tips.
- Rebates on energy-efficient products and services.
