With southern Saskatchewan entering what looks like a week-long heat wave, SaskPower is offering up some tips to save money and take the load off their infrastructure. Anytime the mercury starts to rise or drop below normal conditions, the Crown Corporation sees a surge in demand, often leading to some records for consumption.

Management Consultant Jordan Jackle says it can be even more expensive to cool your home than it is to heat it so taking every precaution will help.

"Close your blinds or get room darkening blinds to prevent heat from coming in, particularly on south-facing windows because that can heat things up and make your air conditioner work even harder," suggested Jackle. "Don't make more heat. If you can delay chores that produce heat and moisture, things like doing your laundry, running the dishwasher or cooking, if you can move that to later in the day when it's a little bit cooler then that'll help as well."

If you don't have air conditioning, Jackle says most furnaces have the option of just running the fan and that will draw cooler air from the basement then circulate it through the rest of the house. But he suggests checking the furnace filter since it can restrict the flow of air if the filter hasn't been changed recently.