Your electric bills don't have to skyrocket just because the temperature does. Here is a list of some suggestions you can try that will help cut your electric costs.

1) Use exterior shades, awnings or deciduous plants to shelter your house from sunlight.

2) Keep your air conditioning condenser shaded.

3) Keep your furnace pilot light off during the summer.

4)If you have a pool, use pool covers to prevent heat loss by evaporation and to save energy.

5) Reduce pool water temperature and limit the number of months you heat your pool.

Here are some daily energy saving tips to try:

* Close your windows while air conditioners are running.

* Consider installing a programmable thermostat for your air conditioner, which will bring the temperature down in small increments when set in program mode.

* Close off rooms that don't need cooling if you have individual room thermostat controls.

* Clean air conditioner filters regularly.

* Check regularly to see that your pool cleaning and heating equipment is clean and lubricated.

* Try to dry all clothes on line.

* Open windows to let in cool air in the am; then shut them at least by 10am, or before sun starts beating down.

* Try not turning on any lights in the summer, it gets dark later so keep them off until after dark.

* Tint your windows. You can buy residential window tint from most home improvement stores. It comes as permanent or static stick on. Turn your home into a shady hangout.

* Replace all light bulbs with 40-watt bulbs.

* Put plastic safety plugs in unused outlets.

* Run dishwasher and washing machine at night.