Energy Efficiency Badge

Jan 11, 2016 | Energy Efficiency | 10 comments

Cold snap? Snap back with savings

Take these steps to help save energy, heat and money in cold weather

Another winter. Another polar vortex. Another round of high electric bills?

Not necessarily. There’s plenty of opportunity to manage your home energy use and keep your bill under control. In fact, you could say the coldest snaps offer the biggest chances to save.

Here are some tips on how to save energy and money during this cold week, and during cold weeks to come:

– Heating is the average home’s single biggest energy expense, so improvements here can make a real difference. Try to set your thermostat at 68 degrees, and use a programmable thermostat to turn down the heat when everyone is asleep or out and about.

– Make sure the hot-air vents in your home are open and free from obstruction, so you get all the heat your furnace is churning out. (Kids, especially, have a knack for dropping stuff on top of the vents and leaving it there.)

–  It’s best to get your heating system inspected and tuned up for maximum efficiency before cold weather arrives. But, if you haven’t done it yet, you can still get it done, to save energy the next time Canada decides to send us a bulk shipment of arctic air.

If it’s too late to get a full tuneup, you can start by replacing your furnace filter so your furnace doesn’t have to work as hard.

– Simple, quick steps that can keep hot air inside your house include installing special insulators inside electrical outlets and weather-stripping doorjambs.

– If you only want to warm up a small area, a portable heater might be a more efficient choice than cranking up the thermostat. Be sure to use these heaters safely, keeping them away from curtains and furniture and turning them off when you no longer need them.

– Since the cost of generation supply makes up the largest portion of most bills, you can save by buying your electric supply from a competitive supplier. Check out PAPowerSwitch.com to see other offers available to you. Remember to check out the terms of each offer, such as whether the rate is fixed or variable, and whether there are cancellation fees.

We invest in our delivery system year-round to keep it reliable at times like this – replacing old equipment, installing smart grid technology and trimming trees. We had no major system issues from last year’s cold weather and we’re aiming for the same performance this year. If you do have an outage at any time, please report it by calling 1-800-DIAL-PPL (342-5775) or online at pplelectric.com/outage.

Finally, if you or someone you know is concerned about paying their electric bills, you can find out more about our payment assistance programs online, or call 1-800-DIAL-PPL and talk with a customer service representative between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

10 Comments

  1. Logan Murphy

    I like how you said that the cold months of the year are a great opportunity to actually save on the electrical bill. I’m going to try your suggestion of setting our heater to 68 and programming it to lower when we aren’t home. We are only home in the mornings and evenings because of work and school. Might as well not use a lot of energy during that time. Thanks for the help. I think these suggestions will really work for us.

    Reply
    • Kurt

      Glad to hear these tips may be of use! Every little bit of savings helps.

      Reply
  2. Kathy E Line

    I would like to receive your free energy kit.

    Reply
  3. Judy Laubscher

    I would like a energy kit

    Reply
  4. Jenn Curtis

    How do I get a free energy kit

    Reply
  5. cheryl martin

    I am happy with pp&L co. but I am wondering why my bill is $72.00 since I live in an apartment and only heat my one bedroom apartment with a heater . I have not done any thing different . I don’t use my oven . I have the lights are energy lights in the whole place . I am on a strict budget and this is to high I will not be able to get my medications . I am not getting a supplier I had issues with them . so please help me . this is an apartment for older and handicap residents at pheasant hill Estates on a low income .

    Reply
    • Kurt

      Cheryl: Unfortunately, we’re not really set up to provide individual customer service through this blog, but if you call us at 1-800-DIAL-PPL (342-5775), our customer service representatives would be glad to help you.

      Reply

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