INDIANA – The new year is bringing in a blast of cold weather, and Duke Energy is offering tips to stay warm while managing energy use.
Money-saving tips to combat the cold
Heating can account for the biggest part of a home’s energy bill, so managing your home’s thermostat is one of the best ways to control energy usage and cost. Set your thermostat to the lowest setting that is comfortable for you.
One of the easiest things customers can do for heating efficiency is to change air filters regularly. A dirty air filter makes a heating system work harder, which uses more energy and can increase costs. Also, have heating systems checked regularly by a qualified heating and air conditioning contractor to maintain efficiency and peak performance.
Leave drapes or blinds open during sunny winter days to allow the sun’s rays to warm the house, but close them at night to help insulate your home.
One of the best energy-saving habits you can use each year is checking windows, doors, and vents for air leaks. Caulking, sealing, and weatherstripping leaks can save 10-20% in heating costs.
Replace standard bulbs with light-emitting diodes (LED). LEDs are more efficient than regular bulbs, giving off the same light. Replacing just six of your most frequently used bulbs with LEDs can save up to $480 over the bulbs’ lifetime.
Operate ceiling fans clockwise in the winter, pushing warm air back into the room. (Most fans have a switch that allows you to reverse the motor.) While fans move air and make people more comfortable, they do not provide heat, so remember to turn the fan off when you leave the room.
Manage water heating. Set your water heater to 120 degrees or less. Water heating is typically the second biggest use of energy in your home.
Ways to manage winter heating bills
Duke Energy offers free programs and tools to help customers better manage and understand their monthly energy expenses:
Budget Billing gives customers better control over energy spending by establishing predictable monthly payments.
Pick Your Due Date allows customers to adjust their bill’s due date.
Interest-free Installment Payment Plans are available for customers who need flexibility with paying a bill.
Usage Alerts notify customers how much energy they are using and how much it costs in time to adjust before the end of a billing cycle.
For customers who qualify, Duke Energy’s partnerships with community and state agencies can help them access state and federal assistance, including:
Low-income Energy Assistance Programs (LIHEAP): Provides a one-time payment to help eligible Indiana households pay their energy bills during winter.
Weatherization Program: Helps income-qualified customers save energy and reduce expenses through conservation measures like weatherstripping and HVAC repairs or replacements.
In addition, Duke Energy’s Share the Light Fund® assists qualifying customers struggling to pay their energy bills. The program is funded through Duke Energy shareholders’, customers’, and employees’ contributions.
With the colder-than-normal temperatures, it is also a good time to check on friends, neighbors, and family members who may be elderly to ensure they have what they need to stay warm.
Duke Energy Indiana
Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides about 6,300 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 890,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana’s largest electric supplier.
