How to prevent energy bills from spiking as the weather gets warmer

CHICOPEE, Mass (WWLP) - Your energy bills could get higher as warm summer weather is right around the corner.

This comes off the heels of spiking energy bills this past winter, with many viewers reaching out to 22News about their concerns. These hot days mean more air conditioning and more energy. There are ways to mitigate the costs, but you'll need to act sooner rather than later.

Energy costs will soon go up, as New England braces for another hot summer. The Climate Prediction Center's current forecast suggests above-average temperatures for all of New England. Mary Cate Colapietro from ISO New England told 22News this weather plays a large role in energy demand.

"Weather is probably one of the biggest drivers of electricity demand on the energy grid," Colapietro said. "When it is really hot and it's scorching, especially when the humidity is high, we'll see people turn to air conditioning to cool off their homes and their businesses, and that's going to drive up energy demand."

A large contributor to increased energy costs is how well you can keep cold air in and warm air out. Many factors contribute to energy loss during the summer months, everything from the thickness of your windows to how much air gets under your door. Luckily, there are programs in place to test the efficiency of your home.

Simple fixes like door draft stoppers and weather stripping can help keep the cold air inside. Another route that is often free is getting an energy efficiency assessment from your utility provider. The Director of the Energy Efficient Residential Program at Eversource recently spoke about addressing the problem before you see those higher bills.

"It's important if we take action now, and you can schedule that initial visit so that you can be ready when warmer weather is here," said Kate Peters, Director of the Energy Efficient Residential Program at Eversource. "A home energy assessment is like an energy checkup for your home."