TEXAS, USA — Like everything else, inflation is hitting our electric bills.
If your air conditioner has been cranking more than usual lately, brace yourself, because utilities are predicting bigger bills for July and August.
Latrice Bess worries about her next electric bill.
"All this heat we have, you have to keep your air conditioner running," Bess said. "Inflation is beating us up out here."
Soaring electric bills on top of the rising cost of gas and groceries.
But what's behind the predictions?
Summer heat waves are just one part, but mostly, it's the rising price of natural gas, which provides most of our electricity in the U.S.
"They have increased...they have doubled this year," said Casey Kroger, who's a utility spokesperson. "We expected increased prices to sustain throughout the rest of the summer."
But there's no need to panic or sweat. Your area hardware store should have some inexpensive things you can buy to lower your bill.
That includes some furnace filters that now alert you when it's getting clogged.
"It's Bluetooth enabled," Ace Hardware's Jon Doucleff said. "It sends a signal to your smartphone to tell you it's time to change your filter."
Doucleff also says to buy a fan, which can make you feel cooler for just pennies. After turning on a fan, turn up your thermostat.
Utility companies say every degree higher save up to 3% on your bill.
Nerd Wallet says that other simple fixes you can do include sealing leaks around windows and doors. Closing your blinds and swapping out old lightbulbs for LED energy saving bulbs can help too.
Finally, don't run your oven on hot days. And use smart power strips which cut off electricity to devices when they're not in use.
Ultimately, if you're struggling to pay a bill, ask for help.
"The first step is to call your utility company," Kimberly Palmer with Nerd Wallet says. "See if they offer any programs or payment plans or payment forgiveness to help you get through that difficult period."
That way you don't have to pay the bill all at once, so you don't waste your money.