Wiser energy choices are friendly to your wallet

New Orleans, La. – Summer time can bring lots of family fun…but not necessarily when it comes time to cool your home during in rising summer temperatures. Entergy New Orleans, Inc. wants to remind customers that while higher summer usage does result in higher electric bills, customers can make wiser energy choices that will help optimize their electricity usage.

“A small change, such as keeping your home’s thermostat set at optimum levels in summer, can add up to real savings,” said Melonie Hall, customer service director for Entergy New Orleans, Inc. “Some of these are well within customers’ control.”

Entergy New Orleans encourages customers to partner with the company in controlling electricity costs by taking advantage of solutions the company offers, such as these top three tips for reducing your electricity usage:

• Raise your thermostat, lower your bill—Air conditioning can account for up to 55 percent of an average home’s monthly bill. Raise thermostats to 78 degrees during warmer months to reduce electricity use as much as 20 percent.

• Get your ducts in a row—Sealing duct work, caulking and weather stripping are easy ways to reduce electrical consumption. Seal places where electrical, plumbing or heating systems come into your home. Caulk or weather-strip around doors, windows and wall seams, and add insulating gaskets on all electrical outlets and switches.

• Keep your cool—Use ceiling or box fans to circulate cool air and feel more comfortable.

Find more easy-to-use tips and answers to your energy questions at entergyanswers.com.

“Even though electricity is a good value, nobody wants to pay more than they have to,” said Hall. “Entergy New Orleans also does its part to keep electricity prices low by using a diverse fuel mix and by taking advantage of contracts that allow the company to purchase less-expensive power.”

The utility also offers several billing options to customers to help them manage their monthly budgets and assists elderly and disabled low-income customers through its customer assistance fund, The Power to Care. The fund is administered by the Council on Aging and funded by Entergy employees, customers and shareholders. Visit entergy-neworleans.com for more information about benefiting from or donating to The Power to Care.

Entergy New Orleans, Inc. is an electric and gas utility serving Orleans Parish and is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. The company provides electricity to more than 150,000 customers and natural gas to more than 96,000 customers in Orleans Parish.

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