Summer Sticker Shock
High temperatures, high humidity lead to high electricity bills
My parents called me a few weeks ago, concerned about the high electricity bill they received. Their July bill had nearly doubled compared to June’s, and they were understandably confused. They’ve always been careful with their electricity use and keep their thermostat set at 78 degrees. After reading the newspaper and listening to the news, they wanted to know why electric costs were rising so sharply.
They’re not alone. We’ve heard the same situation from our own members, this year and in the past, with similar questions, and I want to take a moment to help explain what’s likely behind these higher bills.
Even if you’ve kept your thermostat at the same setting, when outdoor temperatures soar into the 90s with high humidity levels (like we saw in July), your air conditioner has to work harder and run much longer just to maintain that same indoor temperature. That increased runtime leads to higher energy use, even if your air conditioning settings haven’t changed.
In addition to that, many people are spending more time indoors to escape the heat. That means more lights, fans, electronics, cooking, and appliances are running — all of which add to your total energy consumption.
Of course those aren’t the only factors contributing to higher electricity bills. Other factors include issues in the regional electricity markets, increased demand from data centers, and a shortage of power generation. These pressures are all pushing prices upward. As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, our transmission costs — which we do not control — have also risen and are expected to continue increasing due to these challenges.
However, it’s important to note that Pioneer Electric’s distribution costs — those that we do control — have not increased since January 2024.
We know it can be frustrating to see a higher bill when you feel like you haven’t done anything differently. That’s why we encourage all our members to use SmartHub, our online account management tool and mobile app, to monitor your daily electric use and spot trends before your bill arrives. The app also provides detailed breakdown of individual appliances from the previous month, and we encourage you to complete your home profile within SmartHub. You have your energy information at your fingertips to help you stay in control.
We also want you to know that you’re not alone if a higher-than-expected bill has caught you off guard. If you’re struggling to make a payment and need some flexibility, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. Pioneer Electric is happy to work with members on payment arrangements to help make payments more manageable.
We’re here to serve our members, not just by delivering power, but by offering the support and understanding you need when the unexpected happens. If you have questions about your bill, your usage, or assistance options, please give us a call at 800-762-0997 or visit our website www.pioneerec.com to set up your SmartHub account.
