Alabama Power launches new online tool to help customers track energy usage during summer heat
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – As temperatures begin climbing across Alabama, many families are already preparing for what often comes next, higher power bills during the hottest months of the year.
Now, Alabama Power is introducing a new online tool designed to help customers better understand how outdoor temperatures and thermostat settings inside their homes can directly impact energy usage.
The interactive tool, called “TempCheck,” allows users to compare the temperature outside with the temperature set inside their homes to see how hard their HVAC systems may have to work to maintain comfort levels.
Company leaders say the goal is to help customers make more informed decisions as summer temperatures continue rising statewide.
“The third fact is that the closer your temperature setting is on your HVAC unit to the temperature outside, the less energy you use,” Alabama Power spokesperson Anthony Cook said.
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According to Alabama Power, heating and cooling systems can account for as much as 35%- 50% of a home’s total energy usage, particularly during extreme temperatures in the summer and winter months.
The company says Alabama residents also use roughly 30% more energy than the national average, making energy efficiency especially important during prolonged stretches of heat.
The TempCheck tool works by allowing users to adjust two settings: the outdoor temperature and their indoor thermostat setting. The system then shows how large the gap is between the two temperatures and whether energy demand is considered low, moderate, high or extreme.
Cook said the tool is not designed to estimate a customer’s monthly power bill, but instead provide a clearer picture of how thermostat settings can affect overall usage.
“So, if you set your thermostat to 70, that’s a 12-degree difference,” Cook explained. “And the tool will show you what a 12-degree difference, how that impacts your usage in your home.”
Alabama Power officials said several factors can still influence overall energy usage, including a home’s insulation, the condition of doors and windows, the age, and efficiency of HVAC systems and individual comfort preferences.
Even so, company leaders say the tool gives customers a better understanding of why energy usage often increases during periods of extreme heat, even while Alabama Power rates remain frozen.
The company says the tool can also be useful during colder months when heating systems are working to maintain larger temperature gaps between indoor and outdoor conditions.
TempCheck is available online through Alabama Power’s summer energy savings page, which also includes additional tools and tips designed to help customers monitor and manage their energy usage.
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