-- Manhattan artist Lizzie Atlas knows summer means a sizzle that is coming to drive her off her stoop and into her studio apartment.
On Wednesday, she flipped the switch to power on her air conditioner for the first time this year. She knows from previous summers her electric bill will dramatically increase -- more than double. "Your bills will go up because you're using more energy to keep cool in the summer," said Helen Lee, Con Edison's Energy Efficiency Program manager."If the filters are clean. If they're not, get those clean, make sure the AC is running efficiently as possible," Lee said.
Lee added,"about 40% of unwanted energy actually comes through our windows so pulling down the shade, closing the blinds are great ways to keep your room cool.""If you clean the coils, it can help the refrigerator do its job without using additional energy," Lee explained, On the hottest days ahead, you can find relief inside a public library and in malls. The city also occasionally sets up and cooling centers.Payment help from Con Ed includes the Level Payment Program, which analyzes and estimates your annual bill--allowing you go pay a similar amount every month of the year.