Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) is reminding customer-members that the recent cold temperatures in December will affect energy bills in January. Gusting wind and extended periods of sub-freezing temperatures will directly translate into higher energy usage, which results in higher energy bills, according to SMECO.
“Demand for electricity is projected to be 11 percent higher for December than the same time period in 2009, and nearly 18 percent higher than our five-year December average. That is a substantial increase in electricity demand and will impact our customer-members’ bills for January,” said Austin J Slater, Jr., SMECO president and CEO.
For customer-members who want to save money on their bills, the Co-op provides the following information on how to reduce energy use when the weather is cold.
* Heating systems account for a significant portion of a residential customer’s energy use, so wear warm clothes inside and turn down the thermostat, which SMECO recommends setting at 68 degrees.
* Make sure to clean or replace the filters on your heating system monthly.
* Keep window blinds and curtains open during the day to let in sunlight, but close them at night to keep cold air out.
* Do not set your heat pump to run in emergency heat mode or auxiliary heat mode, because the resistance heat elements cost more to operate.
* Avoid changing your heat pump thermostat. Find the coolest comfortable setting and leave it there. Moving the thermostat setting up and down will cause your heat pump to operate less efficiently and will cost you more money.
* Keep exterior doors and windows closed.
* Use bathroom exhaust fans only when needed. They pull warm air and humidity out of the house.
* Keep snow and leaves away from the outdoor unit of your heat pump.
* Have your heating system professionally serviced on a regular basis to keep it operating at its peak efficiency.
According to Tom Dennison, SMECO spokesperson, “The month of December had 22 days where the temperature fell below 32 degrees. Add gusting wind and snow, and you are looking at an increased demand for power to stay warm.” He added, “To help customers manage their energy use, SMECO posts information on its website located at www.smeco.coop and in our monthly newsletter. We encourage customers to take the steps listed above as we continue to endure these record-low temperatures.”
Customers who need assistance with paying their energy bills can contact the Office of Home Energy Programs at (301) 274-4474. Customers in Prince George’s County can contact the Department of Social Services at (301) 909-6300.