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With summer beginning Thursday, June 20, Tullahoma residents are already feeling the summer heat this week.

As the temperatures are set to be in the high 80s and early 90s this week, the Tullahoma Utilities Authority is advising its customers about how to best save money and their units.

“With the hotter-than-average temperatures we’re experiencing, your air conditioner is likely running more than usual, which can lead to higher utility costs,” TUA officials said. “Weather, especially outside air temperature, significantly impacts your utility expenses.”

TUA officials advise customers to follow the “‘20 Degree Rule” for air conditioning.

“This means you shouldn’t set your thermostat more than 20 degrees cooler than the outside temperature,” officials said. “For example, if it’s 80 degrees outside, setting your thermostat to 70 degrees is manageable. However, if it’s over 90 degrees outside, your unit will struggle to maintain 70 degrees inside, running almost non-stop and driving up your utility costs.”

TUA added experts recommend setting thermostats to 78 degrees in the summer. They said while this might seem high, it will help balance comfort and cost.

“If health or other circumstances make this difficult, adjust accordingly, but remember: the lower the thermostat setting, the more your air conditioner will run and the higher your costs will be,” officials said.

Other ways to help reduce the load on air conditioners, customers and residents can consider closing drapes to block out heat, running ceiling fans counterclockwise to circulate air and avoiding heat-producing appliances during the hottest part of the day.