Key Takeaways:
- Cold weather results in higher electricity use because lights are on longer and home heating systems have to work harder to keep your home warm.
- Save on Energy has programs to boost energy efficiency, including Peak Perks, Home Renovation Savings Program, and Energy Affordability Program.
- Payment options like equal billing make budgeting easier.
- My Account can help you track your consumption, understand your charges, and manage your account details.
- Customers can select from three different pricing plans to suit their lifestyle, including Time of Use, Tiered, or Ultra-Low Overnight rates.
In the heart of winter, when temperatures have dropped, you might see your electricity bill start to climb. Why does this happen, and what can you do about it?
How it happens.
- Those short winter days mean it gets dark fast and stays dark. Lights get turned on earlier and stay on longer. Switching to LED bulbs wherever possible will help minimize the impact of those extra lighting hours on your bill. Putting lights on timers or motion sensors in rooms that are used infrequently, or reminding everyone to turn lights off when leaving the room, might be more challenging, but it helps too.
- When your toes get chilly, and you reach for the thermostat, it’s not just the mercury that rises, so can your electricity bill. The colder it is outside, the harder your heating system has to work to keep you snug and cozy inside. Baseboard and electric furnaces or space heaters are the worst culprits, but even properties heated by natural gas will be impacted by the electricity demands of the fans circulating the heat through your home.
What you can do about it.
Drop it so it’s not-so-hot.
Every little bit helps. Turning the thermostat down by a degree or two, putting on another layer, or snuggling under an extra blanket will make a difference to your wallet.
Installing a programmable thermostat lets you set the temperature a bit lower when you are away or asleep, and warmer when you really need it. Many newer smart thermostats even let you control them remotely through convenient apps.
Take advantage of efficiency programs.
If you have a qualifying programmable thermostat, you can enroll in Save on Energy’s Peak Perks program. Participants earn a $75 gift card for signing up, and another $20 gift card for every year they continue, literally putting money back in your hands.
You already know your heating system is working overtime when winter is at its worst. So don’t let any of that energy (or your money) go to waste! Make sure your home is properly insulated, and check for drafts and leaks that can let that hard-earned warmth slip right through your fingers. Save on Energy has the Home Renovation Savings Program, and Energy Affordability Program that can help make those upgrades more affordable, or even free! You can find out more about these programs, Peak Perks, and more at saveonenergy.ca or on Enova’s Saving Energy and Money page.
Pick the right pricing plan.
Another way you can help reduce costs is to make sure you are on the right pricing plan for you. Choosing between Tiered, Time of Use, or Ultra-Low Overnight pricing can be another useful tool for managing your bills. Each plan offers different benefits based on how you use electricity, so deciding what works best for your lifestyle can make a real difference! Visit our customer choice page to learn more about the options and even try out a bill calculator to help you decide.
Manage your account.
Online tools like My Account let you track your electricity use, see patterns in your consumption, and identify where you may be able to save.
Selecting our equal billing option helps to smooth out seasonal spikes in your electricity use, from heating in the winter to air conditioning in the summer. Costs are averaged out over the course of the year, making it easier for you to stay on budget.
Understanding how cold weather affects your electricity use and what you can do to minimize the impact is key to avoiding unpleasant surprises on your bills. Enova is here to help you stay informed and connect you with useful tools to manage your electricity use in every season.
