SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -
The heat wave that scorched Siouxland, last week, is gone. But, you might still feel it in your wallet. With air conditioners working overtime recently, electric bills have started shocking some in the area.
That high pressure ridge called the "ring of fire" hit Siouxland with a wave of hot temps. It brought heat indices to more than 100 degrees, drying out crops and people.
"It's really the heat indices that we're worried about. they could reach anywhere from 105 to 110 degrees," said Meteorologist Riley O'Connor.
Now, weeks later, temps have tumbled. But hot weather has left a burn mark on some bank accounts. Check out Facebook where people have been posting their two cents. Joe Reklaitis, of Concord, Nebraska, said his electric bill cost him around $180 last month. He's expecting this one to be more than $200. Terri Henricksen, of Kamrar, Iowa, said her energy bill overall increased $150 this month.
Power company MidAmerican Energy says it hasn't upped rates. Instead these bigger bills mean people are using more power.
"If they're using more energy their utility bill may slightly go up in the summer months. If they are using less energy, obviously, that's going to have an impact on the bottom line of their utility bill," said Tina Potthoff, spokesperson for MidAmerican.
Here are some simple tricks to keep electric bills from becoming too hot to handle. In summer months, set your thermostat to 70 or higher. Upping it, even a degree over your normal, can save you about 3-4%. Other things; close blinds and shades to keep the sun out, keep air registers clear of rugs and furniture, and make sure your A/C stays efficient with a clean air filter.
"Even the smallest things... can have a major impact on your utility bill," said Potthoff.
