Tucson, Ariz. – With unseasonably high temperatures that could lead to greater energy use, UniSource Energy Services is offering customers advice to help manage their monthly bills.

Customer Support During Extreme Heat

The National Weather Service issued an extreme heat watch for Mohave County and an extreme heat warning for Santa Cruz County through Sunday, advising area residents to take precautions and limit outdoor activity in dangerously hot weather.

UniSource recognizes that customers are counting on reliable service to stay cool during high temperatures. To protect public safety, we will not disconnect residential customers for nonpayment during extreme heat warnings. We monitor our local energy grid 24 hours a day and advise customers to report outages as quickly as possible through our free mobile app or website, or by calling our Customer Care team.

UniSource also does not disconnect residential electric service for non-payment during summer months. However, customers must still pay for the energy they use and could be subject to late fees and disconnection later for failing to pay overdue balances. That’s why we always encourage customers not to skip any payments since they may accumulate a large balance that will be hard to pay when cooler weather resumes.

Save Energy, Save Money

Hot weather could lead to greater energy use and higher monthly bills. Here are fast, free ways to use less energy.

• Set thermostats at the highest comfortable temperature. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting thermostats at 78 degrees in the summer, although individual preferences may vary.
• Use curtains or blinds to keep sunlight out of your home.
• Use ceiling or oscillating fans to move the air in your home so you feel cooler without increasing air conditioner use.
• Don’t block vents or ducts inside the house. Maintaining clear air paths allows your cooling system to work more efficiently. Keep exterior doors and windows closed when running the air conditioner.
• Try drying your clothes naturally by hanging them outdoors instead of using your electric clothes dryer, which uses a lot of energy and adds heat to your home. Save energy with your dishwasher by simply opening the door after the rinse cycle to let your dishes air dry.

Find more energy-saving tips at uesaz.com/tips.

Manage Your Bill

UniSource offers free and easy ways to help manage your energy bills.

Customers can sign up for Budget Billing and pay the same amount for electric use every month, leveling out the peaks and valleys that result from weather-driven usage.

Customers can find their hourly, daily and monthly energy usage through My Account and the TEP mobile app.

Customers may be able to save money by using one of our Time-of-Use pricing plans, which offer lower rates at certain times of the day. Shifting energy usage to mornings, midday and later in the evening can reduce your monthly bills.

Payment Assistance

UniSource understands that some customers face financial challenges. To provide relief, UniSource offers extended payment arrangements, payment extensions and other forms of assistance for customers who have fallen behind on their electric bills. Customers may qualify for a monthly discount, and bill payment assistance also is available from several community agencies.

UniSource provides electric service to more than 105,000 customers in Mohave and Santa Cruz counties.It also provides natural gas service to more than 168,000 customers in northern and southern Arizona. For more information about UniSource, visit uesaz.com.

UniSource and its parent company, UNS Energy, are subsidiaries of Fortis Inc., a leader in the North American regulated electric and gas utility business. For more information visit fortisinc.com.

News Media Contact:
Joseph Barrios
(520) 884-3725
jbarrios@uesaz.com