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Get a Head Start on Summer Energy Savings with Beat the Heat

Early launch helps customers prepare now for hotter days ahead

With a hotter-than-average summer in the forecast, Starkville Utilities is launching its Beat the Heat energy-saving program early to give customers more time to prepare and manage cooling costs before high temperatures arrive.

Beat the Heat makes being proactive easy with simple, do-it-yourself tips to manage energy consumption during peak summer months. In addition to saving money on electricity bills, customers can help reduce overall strain on the electrical grid during periods of high demand.

“Hotter summers are becoming a fact of life, and the earlier that customers prepare, the more they can save,” said Edward Kemp, Starkville Utilities general manager. “Energy conservation also plays a role in improving grid reliability, especially during extreme temperatures. Partnering with customers to better manage energy use creates benefits for the entire community.”

Considering that a typical family spends nearly $2,000 annually on home energy bills, it literally pays to improve efficiency. Get a head start on maximizing cost savings now with these tips:

• Thermostat management: Set thermostats at 78°F or higher when home and higher when away. Consider using a smart thermostat, which can automatically adjust temperature settings to match your schedule, leading to significant energy savings.
• Appliance usage timing: Run heat-producing appliances like dryers, dishwashers and ovens during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening).
• Fans for comfort: Use ceiling fans and portable fans to circulate air, allowing for a higher thermostat setting while still feeling cool. Reminder: Fans cool people, not rooms—so turn fans off when you leave.
• Block the sun: Keep solar heat out by closing blinds, drapes and shutters during the hottest parts of the day.
• AC maintenance: Replace air conditioner filters regularly and invest in routine HVAC check-ups to ensure your system is operating safely and efficiently.
• Seal air leaks: Caulk and weather-strip around doors and windows to prevent leaks and drafts. Attaching “sweeps” or “shoes” to the bottom of doors also helps keep cool air from escaping.

These tips are just a starting point—there are many more ways to save energy and money while maintaining comfort and supporting community-wide grid stability.

By enrolling in SmartHub, Starkville Utilities’ online portal, customers can gain access to a powerful tool to manage energy usage, review past bills and set up usage alerts.

Starkville Utilities’ website also provides comprehensive energy-saving tips for all seasons. Through its partnership with TVA, the utility also offers several energy-saving incentives and solutions for residential customers through the EnergyRight program.

“We appreciate customers’ focus on energy efficiency and thank them for taking action now to Beat the Heat,” Kemp said. “By finding ways to save energy, customers are doing their part to support grid stability and ensuring our community has an uninterrupted supply of power during extreme weather.”

Starkville Utilities is a public utility serving 14,000 residences, businesses and industries in Starkville, Mississippi as well as Mississippi State University. Its mission is to supply safe, reliable, and cost-effective electric and water service of superior quality and value that improves the lives of its customers.