First Choice Power's Summer Energy Efficiency Tips

FORT WORTH, Texas — May 18 2005 — With another hot Texas summer around the corner, First Choice Power offers steps for its customers to take to make their homes as energy efficient as possible. Customers can conserve energy use and keep their monthly bills in check by implementing the initiatives below now — before the heat of the summer hits.

"Customers really have more control over their energy usage than they might think, and this is a good time to exercise that control," said John Menichini, vice president of Customer Operations.

First Choice Power offers the following simple suggestions to assist with energy conservation and help reduce energy bills:

• Schedule a routine maintenance inspection of your cooling system. A unit 10-percent low on Freon will increase operating costs by 40 percent. The maintenance check can save up to 10 percent on operational costs.

• Check and change air conditioner filters regularly.

• Set thermostats to a higher setting and use ceiling fans or oscillating fans to distribute cool air.

• Set the thermostat at 78 degrees when the house is occupied and in the low 80s when no one is home. A programmable thermostat can automatically do this for you.

• Close air vents and turn off window air conditioners in unused rooms. Also, close doors to unused rooms.

• Draw blinds, shades or drapes to block sunlight during the hottest part of the day,

• Inspect your duct system for air leaks or damage.

• All windows and doors should be weather-stripped, and window and doorframes should be thoroughly caulked.

• Keep fireplace dampers tightly closed when not in use.

• Wait until you have a full load to run the dishwasher or washing machine. Use cold water wash and rinse, if possible.

• Set the water heater at 120 degrees for normal use if the dishwasher has a booster heater. For dishwashers without booster heaters, set the thermostat at 140 degrees.

• Clean refrigerator condenser coils at least twice a year.

If you're in the market for a new home cooling system, look for units that have high energy-efficiency ratings — an Energy Efficiency Rating of 11 or more for window units, and a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio of 14 or more for central units. It pays to buy the most efficient equipment you can afford.

First Choice Power offers additional information to assist customers with increased summer electric usage resulting from higher summer temperatures. For more information on how to control energy use at home, consult the company Web site (www.firstchoicepower.com) under the "Residential Services" heading.

First Choice Power is a retail electric provider and a wholly owned subsidiary of TNP Enterprises. It is also the retail affiliate of Texas-New Mexico Power Company, which provides electric transmission and distribution service to more than 200,000 customers in Texas and complete electric service to 48,000 customers in New Mexico.

 

First Choice Power Special Purpose, L.P. | PUCT REP Certification No. 10008

First Choice Power Media Contact
Catherine K. Carlton (469) 484-8686
Media Relations
First Choice Power

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