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The unofficial start of the summer season — Memorial Day — is right around the corner and PPL Electric Utilities wants to help you stay cool for less.

Summer electric bills typically increase due to energy for things like:

• Air-conditioning — Nearly 90 percent of U.S. homes have some kind of AC.

• Pools — There are 10.4 million residential pools in the U.S. and that means a lot of pool pumps.

• School’s out — The kids are home. We’re talking more power for televisions, computer games and of course, the refrigerator.

The following useful tips can help you stay cooler for less and prevent you from getting hot under the collar about your electric bill.

Programmable thermostats. Properly using these is important so you get the best benefit. Keep temperature settings at their set points for long periods of time — at least eight hours. That can cover the overnight hours or when everyone is away at work for the day. Try to resist overriding those settings because it could cost you more.

Shades and blinds. Here’s a simple, tried and true solution. Keep shades and blinds drawn during the day to block out the sun and keep things cooler indoors.

Ceiling fans. They use far less electricity than an air conditioner and use the wind-chill effect to help you feel cooler. However, they’re meant to cool people, not rooms, so turn off the fan when you leave.

Reduce indoor heat. During the day, try to avoid the use of heat-producing appliances like your stove. Your home also will stay cooler if you use LED lights instead of incandescent light bulbs. Only about 10% to 15% of the electricity that incandescent lights consume results in light—the rest is turned into heat.

Maintenance. Be sure to schedule regular maintenance on your air-conditioning system to keep it running smoothly. And don’t forget about air filters. Change them regularly to help maintain system efficiency.

Saving energy and money isn’t limited to one season of the year. There are a variety of energy efficiency programs and rebates to help you along the way. Visit savewithppl.com to learn more.