When outdoor temperatures drop, our electricity use increases. That’s because we’re doing more activities inside, and our heating systems are running longer and more often to counteract colder outdoor temperatures. We all tend to use electricity at the same times—in the morning and early evenings—and that can put a strain on our electric grid.
Natural gas makes up a large part of the fuel used to generate the power that flows to your home or business. In winter months, when even more electricity is being used simultaneously across the country, the increased demand for natural gas will influence fuel costs, along with the cost to deliver your power. These elements impact the Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) factor you see each month on your PEC electric bill.
PEC remains committed to doing everything possible to minimize the impact felt by its members from rising fuel prices on the cost of producing electricity. We and our power providers take proactive steps to ensure electric reliability in extreme weather, including regular system maintenance, grid modernization efforts, and disaster response planning.
We urge you to place energy conservation at the forefront of your daily life to help decrease the impact of extreme winter weather on your power cost. Here are a few things you can do to save a little money along the way: 1021801101
- Select the lowest comfortable thermostat setting and turn it down several degrees whenever possible. Your heating system must run longer to make up the difference between the thermostat temp and the outdoor temp.
Pro tip: Seal air leaks around windows and exterior doors with caulk and weatherstripping. Air leaks and drafts force your heating system to work harder than necessary. - Stagger your use of major appliances such as dishwashers, ovens, and dryers.
Pro tip: Start the dishwasher before you go to bed and use smaller countertop appliances like slow cookers and air fryers to save energy. - Ensure that your heating system is optimized for efficiency with regular maintenance and proper insulation.
Pro tip: Make sure your furnace filter isn’t clogged and dirty. Replace it as needed. - When possible, use cold water to reduce water heating costs.
Pro tip: Setting your water heater thermostat to 120 degrees can help you save energy and reduce mineral buildup and corrosion in your water heater and pipes. - Unplug devices when not in use to eliminate unnecessary energy use. Even when turned off, electronics in standby mode consume energy. 681008305
Pro tip: Plug devices into a power strip so you can turn them all off at once with the push of a button.
Please consider utilizing our SmartHub mobile app for reporting outages, paying your bill, or monitoring your energy usage. Remember great programs, such as our AMP, discuss on the next page. You can call us at (580) 332-3031 during regular office hours Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Friday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. or stop by our offices located at 1600 North Country Club Road in Ada. You can also find valuable information online at our website, along with our most up-to-date information on PEC’s social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter).