Take Control of Your Electric Heating Bills

     It is important in today’s economy to cut cost in every aspect of lives. Most of us have to take a much longer look at our budget and how we spend our money. As a Customer Relations Advisor for Nashville Electric Service (NES) I have learned the importance of taking control of your electric bills, especially during the winter months. For most of us heating our homes is our biggest energy expense all year. The peak billing period for heating during the winter months are primarily January and February.

    

     As a Customer Relations advisor in the NES call center I talk with a lot of customers who struggle to pay their electric bills every month. It is sometimes overwhelming to listen to all of the various reasons customers are experiencing difficulties paying their electric bills. Needless to say the loss of jobs and other economic suppressions has contributed greatly to their financial hardships. I can vividly recall talking with a customer who had been an excellent paying customer for years, but was currently faced with struggling to pay her electric bill. She emotionally shared with me her recent lost of employment and how devastating it has been for her as a single parent. I was able to assist her with making payment arrangements and offered her some simple energy saving tips to help reduce her electric bills. I would like to also share some simple but effective energy saving tips with you.

         

     The most important thing you can do to reduce your electric heating bill is to simply lower your thermostat to 68 degrees. You will be amazed at how much you will save. If 68 degrees is too cool for you can go to www.nespower.com to view a thermostat chart to help you determine a comfortable and economical setting for you.  You will pay 1 percentage more for every degree above 68 degrees.  An informed customer is an empowered customer, knowledge is POWER.

     It is also important to know a radiant heating system, which is the kind of heat that is found in ceilings is one of the most expensive heating systems to use. If at all possible stay away from homes with radiant heat and baseboard heaters. It is also very expensive to heat your home with plug in electric heaters. A central heating and cooling system that is regulated by a thermostat is preferred. Be sure to have your central heating and cooling unit service every year, which includes checking the refrigerant levels, horses, compressor, and the thermostat. It is also very beneficial to clean or replace the air filters monthly for the central heating and cooling unit.

    

     During the winter months the Customer Relations advisors in the NES call center experience a drastic increase in high bill complaints. It is important to take advantage of the heat that is generated by the sun to help reduce your energy bill. Simply open all drapes to windows facing south. Be sure to keep the cold air outside by weatherizing your home; simply caulk windows and weather-strip doors.

    

     I sincerely hope these simple steps to conserve energy will help you take control of your electric heating bills. As a Customer Relations Advisor in the NES call center it is my desire to help customers overcome the challenges of financial hardships in today’s economy by empowering them with knowledge. “Knowledge is financial POWER”.