Three Point Plan to Save on Winter Bills
Though this winter has been warmer than normal so far, the rising price of many essentials, including energy, may be creating unwelcome surprises when checking your account balances. As part of Peoples’ commitment to Making Your Life Better, we’ve developed a Three Point Plan to ease the burden from your natural gas bills for the rest of winter and into spring.
Point 1: Save Gas & Save Cash
Lowering the thermostat throughout the day and night is the simplest and most straightforward, but there are many great ways to reduce your consumption without a major expense like new windows. One of the best is cleaning or replacing your furnace air filters on a monthly basis. The average residence can save 2-5 percent in fuel costs through this simple practice and also reduce the chance of a costly furnace breakdown. Other cost-effective tactics to reduce energy usage include adding weather stripping to doors and windows and lowering your water heater temperature from 140 to 120-125 degrees.
Point 2: Switch to Budget Billing
Balance out those month-to-month swings in what you owe by opting for budget billing. This approach reduces unpleasant surprises the month after particularly cold periods such as Winter Storm Elliot in December 2022. Budget Billing is available year-round, allowing customers to spread costs evenly throughout the year. Make the switch to Budget Billing today through your E-Account.
Point 3: Know Where To Go For Help
The Peoples ProgramFinder is the fastest way for those experiencing financial hardship to find support with paying their gas bill. Through ProgramFinder, you can learn if you are eligible for Peoples’ Customer Assistance Program (CAP). CAP is available year-round and allows customers to make payments based on their income. Two important seasonal programs, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Dollar Energy Fund (DEF) remain open for those experiencing financial hardship to apply for support. These programs have a limited pool of funds and close in the spring, so if you are struggling to make ends meet, don’t hesitate to use ProgramFinder and see what assistance you may qualify for today.
No matter your income level and financial situation, there are ways to reduce your energy usage and lower your bills at this time of year. You may even want to consider switching to use more natural gas in your home: natural gas appliances like dryers, stoves and furnaces use less energy than their electric counterparts, and ultimately result in lower bills.