`` Don't waste electricity.''

This sentiment is likely being voiced by some older residents or families in financial straits, even during this wretchedly hot sum mer. But an idle fan or air condi tioner -- or access to neither -- could be deadly. It could mean heat stroke, a medical emer gency, or even death to the aged, ill or those with challenges such as asthma.

Summer 2006 is forcing count less people to weigh critical com fort, with its unforeseen price tag, against household budget con straints. The season that histori cally provides respite from some times onerous energy costs of winter, has turned traitorous.

Today the temperature is forecast to hit 100 degrees.

Here's what you can do: Con tact vulnerable relatives and acquaintances to be sure they're safe. If you've got the resources, spring for a fan or air condition er for someone who is suffering and pick up the payment fo r August. Who knows what the rest of the summer will bring? This is the chance to really be your neighbor's keeper.

Take a cue. Seekonk's council on aging and its human services agency are collaborating to phone homebound elderly and lower-income residents.

`` We are in the process of noti fying our clients to make sure they have fans and warning them not to make plans on Wednesday,'' said outreach case manager, Jan Tabor on Monday. `` We're here, we're trying to get the word out.''

Summer in New England is customarily known for its plea sures, the town pool, concerts in the park. But these joys are tak ing a back seat to worry for countless numbers of residents facing spikes in bills.

Home heating and home cool ing represents about 43 percent of residential energy expendi tures for low income house -holds, according to the Depart ment of Health and Human Ser vices.

This year the proportion may be higher if summer continues to dole out misery. National Grid, the utility which delivers elec tricity to some 3.3 million cus tomers in portions of this state, New Hampshire, New York and R hode Island, suggests conserva tion. The lower you set your air cond itioner, for instance, the more it will cost. A 75-degree setting, will be 18 percent more than a 78-degree setting.

Commonsense conservation and precautions are compro mise between no relief and pay ing through the nose.

Jacquie O'Brien, Attleboro's public health nurse, has posted tips related to coping, at Web site cityofattleboro.ushealth.

Judi Fitzmaurice is fuel assis tance manager for regional Self Help, covering 30 comunities including Attleboro. Costs associ ated with this unrelenting hot spell, she said, are not covered through agency federal funding.

`` There is no program in place for this year that would help peo ple with their electric bill,'' said Fitzmaurice. `` We did not get any thing. It's unfortu nate. I don't know of any money out there for that purpose.''