Electricity demand has climbed by 30-35% during the current heat wave, and, unfortunately, this will be reflected in this month’s electricity bills, according to Ede-Sur administrator Ruben Bichara. Electricity purchases by the distributors was US$58 million in April, but in May the figure climbed to US$79 million, mostly because of rising fuel costs and the public’s increased use of electricity as they seek to escape some of the heat. Bichara warned that electricity bills could easily double during the hottest months. He cited the fact that an air conditioner has to work much harder to preserve the temperature at the desired levels during a heat wave. And, as Bichara pointed out, the hottest months are still ahead of us. He recommended that clients keep a close watch on electricity consumption, and check their electric meters every day to monitor their electricity usage.