Maryland summers mean more than just hot, humid weather. Higher temperatures typically mean higher electric bills. Summer bills are typically higher because air conditioners must work much harder to keep homes comfortable during hot humid weather months. Air conditioning accounts for more than half of a typical home's energy usage in the summer.

As the weather gets hotter and humidity rises, your air conditioner has to work harder to maintain your thermostat setting. So the hotter it gets outside, the more energy you use inside, even if you don't change your thermostat setting from one month to another.

And remember: Seasonal changes and having more people in your home during holidays and vacations can result in higher energy use.

• Set the thermostat at 78 degrees or higher with the thermostat fan switch on "auto." For additional savings, raise the thermostat to 82 degrees or warmer when away from home.
• Install a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature automatically and maximize energy savings.
• Clean or replace the air conditioner's filter every month to trim cooling costs and help the unit run more efficiently.
• Turn ceiling fans off in unoccupied rooms. A fan that runs constantly uses electricity unnecessarily
• Turn off those silent energy users such as the stereo, VCR, computer, fax and scanner, or set them to automatic
• Replace existing incandescent bulbs with energy saving compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). CFLs use about 75% less energy and last up to 10 times longer! Replacing a standard bulb with a CFL can save up to $65 in electricity during the bulb's lifetime*

For more information, visit BGE's Home Energy Calculator.