Beaumont, Texas – The end of June is here and summer is definitely sizzling. We all know, though, that temperatures still have a way to go before they top out in July and August. If you are looking for ways to chill your home’s electricity bill, rest assured not all of them involve extensive and expensive renovations.

Have you heard about “phantom power?” If not, Entergy Texas, Inc. has some information you may find interesting and some ways you can curb unexpected energy use.

Phantom power is a term used to describe energy used by appliances and electronic devices even when they are turned off. A wide range of products use phantom power, from your computer to your washing machine. Items that use phantom power require energy as long as they are plugged into an outlet, regardless of whether they are in use.

Also known as standby power, the amount of energy used can add up to as much as 25 percent of the total consumption of any given appliance or electronic device. Common culprits of phantom power include those with remote controls or built-in clocks, timers and instant-on features. Televisions, DVD and VCR players, computers and printers, charges for cell phones, digital cameras, power tools, washers and dryers, ranges and microwave ovens are the most common users of phantom power.

What can you do about it? Take another look at power strips. They don’t just protect against power surges. Connect your appliances or electronic items to power strips that can be turned off when the equipment is not in use. This will completely disconnect the power supply from the power source.

Unplug battery chargers and power adapters when they are not in use.

And always look for Energy Star-labeled products that use the least amount of standby power. If the amount isn’t listed on the label, the U.S. Department of Energy provides a database that can help. Go to oahu.lbl.gov to view manufacturer-supplied standby power data by product category.

Appliances with built-in features, such as a telephone with an answering machine, also help eliminate phantom power usage.

For more information on energy conservation, go to www.entergy-texas.com and follow the ENsight link to Entergy’s online source for energy information.

Entergy Texas provides electricity to 395,000 customers in 26 counties. It is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. Entergy Corp. is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $11 billion and approximately 14,300 employees.