Electricity, you may not think about it very often but it plays a big part in your life from waking up to a charged cell phone alarm in the morning to falling asleep in front of the TV at night. Your day is filled with activity that uses electricity. And as the outside temperatures drop, the demand for energy spikes.
At Kentucky Power, we want to help you take control of your energy use to manage your costs. Our electricity rates are at or below the national average and have even dropped recently. The rates do not change in the winter. If you are still seeing your bill increase, it is likely because of increased usage. You pay the same rate but are likely using more kilowatts each month. Heating an average home with a heat pump with the thermostat set at 70 degrees when it is 30 degrees outside will cost about $28 a week. Running the same system at 70 degrees when it is 10 degrees outside will cost nearly $200 a week. That’s because the expensive resistance heat kicks in when the temperature dips below a certain threshold and the heat pump cannot keep up. Turning your thermostat up more than two degrees per hour also can kick on resistance (auxiliary) heat and cause your bill to spike. Emergency heat utilizes only the resistance heat portion of your heat pump and should only be switched on if there is a mechanical issue with your heat pump.
Customers who reduce the amount of energy used at home can lower bills and save money. There are a number of easy yet important adjustments you can take to make your home more efficient, keep you warm, and cut your costs.
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy offers these tips:
- Take advantage of the heat of the sun. You can do this by opening curtains on your south-facing windows during the day and closing them at night.
- Check your home’s insulation. Proper insulation will reduce heat loss.
- Cover drafty windows. Use heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months.
- Adjust your thermostat. Set it as low as is comfortable. Each degree lower has the potential to save 2 percent on your heating bill. Install a programmable thermostat and it will do the work for you.
- Find and seal leaks. Air leaks often are found around pipes, gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets. Also check around doors and windows. Add caulk or weatherstripping to seal.
- Have a professional tune-up and inspect your heating system. And replace the filter regularly to improve the efficiency of your heat pump.
- Close your fireplace damper when not in use. Don’t use your fireplace? Plug and seal the chimney flue.
- Lower the temperature on your hot water heater. Setting your water heater to 120 degrees will save energy and reduce the chance of scalding.
- Use light-emitting diode, or LED, holiday lights to reduce decorating costs.
Visit kentuckypower.com/save for more ways to save energy.