It’s hot, hot, hot. If you live in Virginia, expect your power bills to be higher, along with your water bills if you’re still trying to keep a yard alive.

June was the hottest month on record in Richmond since 1943, with little relief in sight since July began. To add insult to injury, the hot temperatures have been coupled with little to no rainfall. Currently, most of the state is either below normal rainfall levels or into moderate or severe drought, with parts of the Triangle falling into the realm of severe drought. Take a look at the state drought map to see where your area falls in the drought spectrum.

What does all this mean for your stressed utilities like electricity and water?

Though Dominion Power recently reduced its rates, the company says Hampton Roads homeowners used as much as 53 percent more energy last month for cooling than in an average June, according to a recent press release. They encourage residents to use energy saving techniques to help mitigate the increased energy need.

"Outdoor temperatures drive home energy usage more than any other single factor," said Ken Barker, vice president of customer solutions and energy conservation.  "The extremely hot weather in recent weeks is sending just about everyone's energy bills higher, but there are steps you can take to control your energy use."

There are several methods Dominion customers can use to lower demand during peak summer use. These include raising the thermostat setting to 78 degrees to recognize savings of one percent or more on the monthly electric bill for each increase of one degree; changing the direction of a ceiling fan so that the air blows downward in the summer, which can make the room feel 10 degrees cooler; closing drapes during the hottest times of the day to block heat from entering the home; and scheduling activities that require hot water (such as washing dishes or clothes) for the early morning or late evening, which will result in less heat and humidity being added to a room.

Water demands have also been high in the area due to the heat and drought conditions. In James City County, where residential lawn and yard irrigation significantly increase the water usage during peak months, the recent weather has further upped water usage.

According to James City Service Authority General Manager Larry Foster, the county has seen a daily water demand of about 7.5 to 8 million gallons a day over the last few weeks, compared to average demands in winter months of between 3.5 and 4 million gallons.

Because the county has a ground water system, the levels aren’t dramatically influenced by dry periods, according to Foster, but “long-term we know that groundwater water levels are dropping and are predicted to continue to do so.

“No matter what the weather conditions the JCSA always promotes water conservation. In these times of hot, dry weather causing extended periods of high water demands, there is even more reason to do so. Extended periods of elevated water demands not only deplete a limited resource – groundwater – but it places elevated stress on our mechanical infrastructure increasing the chances of failure.”

Foster points out that there is plenty of water for current indoor water needs, but the outside use is where the challenge lives.  “We highly recommend that our customers use water to sustain their landscapes judiciously,” he says.

For peak landscape irrigation months, the county has an ordinance that limits water use to three days per week based on address.

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