June 24, 2021 3:20 a.m.

With temperatures forecast to climb to record levels, Pacific Power is offering tips to help people to stay safe.

A release said customers can be “air conditioner smart”:

*Set home thermostats to 78 degrees. Cooling below that temperature can increase the air conditioning bill by as much as 8 percent

*Don’t turn off the air conditioning when not home, instead set it at 85 degrees. That setting allows the air conditioner to use less electricity to cool the house than if the air conditioning had been on all day.

*Use a smart or programmable thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature to the personal schedule. Set it to start bringing the home temperature from 85 degrees down to 78 degrees no more than 30 minutes before arriving home.

The utility also said:

*Don’t let the sun shine in. On warm days, close drapes and blinds, especially in south-facing windows which allow in the most heat.

*Open windows in evening and early morning to let cool air in

*Use fans to bring in and circulate cool air. Ceiling and window fans use much less energy than air conditioning.

*Use heat-producing appliances like ovens, dishwashers and dryers in the early morning or late evening hours when temperatures are cooler

*Turn off heat-generating devices when not in use, including lamps, televisions and computers

The release said Pacific Power is not anticipating heat-related service interruptions in this current heat wave.