Consumers Energy's increased summer rates begin Monday, June 1

Consumers Energy said the peak hours rate increase encourages Michiganders to use energy strategically and avoid overloading the power grid during the hot summer months. Most customers will only see a slight increase to their bill, Consumers said.

The utility company shared these tips for reducing energy costs during peak hours:

• Refresh your AC filters: Clean or replace your furnace filters once a month so that your AC will run more efficiently. 
• Install a smart thermostat: Install a smart thermostat at home or in your office. Many will automatically adjust the temperature at the best setting to help save energy. 
• Adjust your AC: Raise your thermostat five degrees for eight hours. Doing this from 2 – 7 p.m. will maximize your savings. 
• Postpone your chores: Wash dishes or laundry after 7 p.m. With delay-start features, you can load now and start automatically in off-peak hours.
• Swap out your lights: Replacing old incandescent bulbs with LEDs is an easy way to lower energy costs. Start with your five most used bulbs. 
• Plug into a smart strip: Plugging your electronic devices into a smart power strip prevents them from using energy when they’re off or in standby mode.