
Winter
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Energy savings tips
Winter
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Energy savings tips

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Energy savings tips
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Energy savings tips
Just like during the summertime, a few conscious energy choices can make a big difference in your winter electricity bill. We'll show you easy ways to prepare for dropping temps, so you can stay in control of your usage.
These simple home improvement tasks can keep your heating system from working harder than it needs to and keep you from spending more than you want to on winter electricity bills.
Here are a few things you can do immediately to reduce energy consumption and still stay comfortable. Best of all, they’re free.
If you have an electric heater, follow these tips.
Two of the most common questions we hear during unseasonably cold weather are, “Why is my electricity bill higher?” and “What can I do to lower it?” The short answer is that the colder it is outside, the harder and longer your heater works to maintain the number on the thermostat. Considering heating and cooling costs account for about 42% of your electricity bill, increased heater usage will lead to higher-than-normal winter bills — if energy efficiency measures aren’t taken.7
Let’s take a closer look at the role your heater plays, as well as at a few simple but often overlooked causes of higher winter bills.
Longer billing cycles
Billing cycles start and end when your Transmission and Distribution Service Provider (TDSP) reads your meter, which is typically every 28 to 30 days. During the holidays, an additional one to three days may pass before your meter is read, creating longer billing cycles in December and January.
Electric vs. natural gas
Many people with gas-powered furnaces enjoy lower electricity bills in the winter. But if you have an electric furnace, the colder season can be tough on your wallet. Electric furnaces are generally more expensive to operate than gas furnaces for two reasons: (1) electric furnaces produce less heat in the same amount of time as gas furnaces and (2) electricity typically costs more than gas in the market.
Wondering whether you have an electric or natural gas heater? Ask yourself:
Fidgeting with your thermostat
As ideal as it would be, cranking your thermostat up 10 degrees on a cold winter’s night won’t make your house warm up any faster. Instead, it makes your heater work harder to reach your desired temperature, costing more money.
Additionally, frequently changing the temperature by a few degrees causes the heater to go into a costly and inefficient cycle of starting and stopping.
The solution? Get a programmable thermostat like the ones offered by Google Nest. A programmable thermostat learns your schedule and temperature preferences. It adjusts automatically when you’re away to save energy, and adjusts again before you arrive home so you walk into a warm, cozy house.
More ways to save
Find out additional things you can do now to help use less energy. Learn more ›
Average Billing
Sign up for Average Billing to smooth out the highs and lows of your electricity bill. With Average Billing, your bill is determined based on the last 12 months of energy usage at your address.8 Get started ›
Degrees of Difference
Choose from two free programs that use your thermostat to help you save energy and reward you for doing so. Learn more ›
Reliant app
Access your plan details, track usage, pay your bill, and set up automated text and email alerts on the go.9 Find out more ›
Weekly Summary Email
Get weekly usage comparisons, projected bill estimates and energy-saving tips delivered to your inbox.10 Sign up to receive emails ›
AccountAlerts
Be automatically alerted via text message when your costs exceed a set amount and/or your daily electricity usage jumps by 25%.11 Sign up for AccountAlerts ›
Payment assistance
Keeping up with bills and due dates can be hard sometimes. We understand, and we want to lighten your load. See assistance options ›
Virtual In-Home Consultation
Let our home energy consultants remotely examine several areas of your home and assess its energy use. You'll benefit from some practical, real-time suggestions that can help boost your home's energy efficiency. Call 1-855-887-2190 to schedule your virtual consultation.13
Appliances ›|Heating and cooling ›|Lighting ›|Outdoor ›|Sealing and insulation ›|Seasonal ›|Working from home ›
1 Based on independent studies by Energy Trust of Oregon and Vectren of actual Google Nest thermostat devices. https://nest.com/downloads/press/documents/energy-savings-white-paper.pdf
2 The U.S. Department of Energy estimates you can save up to 10% on total energy costs (gas and electric) by weatherstripping windows and doors in your home, but your actual savings will depend on how well-sealed your home was in the first place, whether you seal all doors and all windows, and other factors and conditions specific to your home.
3 https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/thermostats
4 https://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/take-vacation-your-energy-bill
5 https://home.howstuffworks.com/question91.htm
7 https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/heat-and-cool/home-heating-systems
8 If there is no previous usage in your name at the service address, or you do not have 11 months of usage at the service address, we will take the previous usage at that service address and apply your current price to calculate your average monthly amount and then subtract or add 1/12 of your deferred balance. The deferred balance amount is the cumulative difference between your monthly Average Billing amount and what you would owe if you were not signed up for Average Billing. The deferred balance amount can be found on your monthly bill. If the bill amount is positive, 1/12 will be added to your bill. If the bill amount is negative, 1/12 will be subtracted from your bill. If you’re a new Average Billing customer, the deferred balance will begin in the second month. Deferred balance must be paid in full if you cancel Average Billing or change electricity providers.
9 Projected bill not available for Pay as you Go customers. Must be a Reliant residential customer with a Texas service address and a smart meter.
10 The billing and usage information provided in the Reliant Weekly Summary Email (WSE) is an estimate and includes only your electricity charges and taxes. Your monthly bill provides your official usage as determined by your local electric utility, as well as the total bill amount due. If you are on an indexed plan, you will not see cost information in your WSE, as prices are determined on the last day of each bill cycle. If you change to an incompatible plan or terminate your service with Reliant, you will no longer receive your WSE. Reliant reserves the right to discontinue the WSE without notice. You may also request to cancel your WSE by calling 1-866-872-6644.
11 Customers must have already opted in to receive alerts via text from the Contact Preferences page on the Account Management dashboard. Available only to customers with a smart meter. Message and data rates may apply. For Terms and Conditions, go to reliant.com/etrm.
12 Current Reliant electricity customers receive 10% off HVAC services offered by Reliant. Discount cannot be combined with promotional repair/replacement offers, applies only to customers in Texas and can be applied to all forms of payment. Reliant may modify or discontinue this program at any time without notice.
HVAC services provided by Reliant Energy Retail Services LLC dba Reliant, a wholly owned subsidiary of NRG Energy, Inc. TACLB23923E. Regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation, P.O. Box 12157, Austin, TX 78711, 1-800-803-9202, 512-463-6599.
13 All features of the Home Energy Checkup may not be available to all customers. Some restrictions apply. Limit one consultation per customer each year. Scheduling is based on availability.
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