High temperatures could mean high utility bills for many East Tennesseans after this heat wave.
But not for one Lenoir City resident.
"In the evenings, my two children, my younger daughters, even say that it's chilly," Kim Hawkins said.
Yes, she is staying cool but still unconcerned about her utility bill. That's because of recent changes to her home after a Tennessee Valley Authority In-Home Energy Evaluation.
It marked the 40,000th evaluation completed since the program began in 2009.
"It's helpful for both the power users and consumers as well as for TVA, and we want to thank the power distributors in our area, like Lenoir City Utilities Board for their great participation in this program. They make it happen," said Mike Bradley, a spokesman for TVA. "It's very important on a day like (Friday) to help TVA trim peak demand so we can deliver power more effectively and efficiently as well as save the consumers' money on their power bills."
Hawkins' stepfather, who also is her landlord, replaced the duct work under the house last year.
And recently, after the home evaluation, he paid to have new windows installed as well.
"We want to keep the air that we're paying to heat and cool, especially cool these days, inside the house," said Blake Brackett, an Energy Right Solutions field supervisor.
Brackett also talked about the importance of routine maintenance on HVAC units and installing energy-efficient light bulbs and shower heads.
"Another great area for improvement is the attic access," Brackett said. "Everybody has one in their house, and it needs to be treated like the front door. It needs to be insulated and weather-stripped. Your front door is insulated and weather-stripped because it gets so hot outside, well, your attic may get twice as hot -- 130, 140 degrees during the summer -- so you want to keep that hot air up in the attic, in the attic."
Hawkins said she's already noticed a difference, and her young daughters have even said it's been "chilly" in her home at night.
But she's no longer concerned about high utility bills, and she's ready for the scorching weekend weather.
"No better time that he could have done this," Hawkins said. "This timing is perfect to get the windows replaced, and I'm not really worried this weekend. I know we're supposed to hit over 100 degrees, and, as long as I'm not going anywhere, I'm fine. I'm going to watch movies and be comfortable in my nice, cool house."
Customers can get an In-Home Energy Evaluation for between $50 and $150. If they make the recommended improvements, they can be reimbursed up to $500, plus get back the money paid for the inspection.