Utilities Offer Tips to Keep Cold Snap From Cooling Off the Bank Account

(KNSI)—Winter is arriving early this year, with temperatures expected to be under 20 degrees all weekend and lows in the single digits.

Utility companies say they are ready. CenterPoint Energy notes that it is policy to have extra fuel on hand, stored, and ready to be deployed during cold snaps when usage is high. They also promise to have crews spread out across their service area, able to make immediate repairs if needed.

CenterPoint is also offering some tips to keep the cold from impacting the pocketbook. It recommends having an HVAC technician inspect the furnace to ensure it is operating efficiently. If necessary, clean or replace the furnace filter.

Before going to bed at night, or when the house is empty with parents at work or kids at school, tick down the thermostat into the low-60s. Weatherproof and insulate doors, fireplaces, and windows so heat can’t escape the home. Blinds are another good way to stealthily regulate temperature. Close them at night or when it is cloudy outside. Open them when the sun is shining so that it can pour in and provide some natural heat.

Lastly, CenterPoint suggests having the ceiling fan spin clockwise to move the warm air as it rises back down to where people are near the floor. More information on how to save money is here.

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