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Cold Temperatures ... High Bills
February 1, 2010

Recent extended periods of bone-chilling temperatures produced higher-than-normal bills in January for some GUC customers. Unfortunately, weather predictions indicate we’re in store for even more cold weather in February. As temperatures drop, usage goes up, and customers should prepare for higher utility bills. 

There’s no question it has been cold lately. Forecasters report the longest stretch of cold weather in over 30 years settled into North Carolina in December and January. According to weather data, the low temperatures from December 16 through January 16 show 29 of 32 readings below freezing. In 2010, the first two weeks of January were particularly cold, with lows hovering in the upper teens to low 20’s and the highs in the mid 30’s and low 40’s. Compare that to the average low for January which is 29 degrees and the average high which is 52 degrees. The National Weather Service reports that a cold snap of this duration was last seen 33 years ago, in January 1977. 

The number of heating degree days (HDD), essentially an index of how much energy is needed for heating purposes, is a good way to measure the severity of temperatures during a particular period of time. The higher the cumulative number of heating degree days, the more extreme the temperature and the more energy consumed to provide heat. There were 905 Heating Degree Days from December 15, 2009 through January 15, 2010. Compare that to 546 HDD for the same period last year. Essentially, it was 66% colder from mid-December to mid-January 2010 than it was during the same time period in 2009. 

The combination of frigid temperatures, over such a long period of time, causes customers to use more energy to heat their homes. As a result, their bills are higher than normal. It’s difficult to predict the impact to customers’ bills because of a number of factors. Bills vary because of different lifestyles, the age and capacity of heating units, condition of duct systems, size and thermal efficiency of the home, “air leaks,”  thermostat settings, etc. Even a two or three degree difference in the thermostat setting can have a dramatic impact on the amount of energy used. 

The efficiency of a heat pump is reduced in severely cold weather, forcing the back-up heat supply to come on more often. This back-up heat could be three times more expensive than the heat pump alone. And, it’s not just heating that’s affected, but hot water as well. With low temperatures, the water coming into the hot water tank is colder. When the tank sits in the garage, carport or other unheated area, it takes longer to heat up the water and uses more electricity. Also, some people have a tendency to take longer, hotter showers in the winter than they do in the summer. 

Steps To Reduce Energy Usage

Outdoor temperatures drive home energy usage more than any other single factor. While none of us can control the weather, we do encourage customers to take steps to reduce energy usage and lower bills as much as possible during the winter months. 

• A heating system on average uses 60% of a home’s energy. Keep furnace filters clean, and make sure your heating system is operating efficiently.

• If you have an electric heat pump, set the thermostat at 68 degrees or lower and “forget it.” For other forms of heat, set the thermostat at 68 degrees (or lower), but if you’re gone for several hours or more, set the thermostat at 55 degrees, or even cut it off (unless pipes are in danger of freezing). 

• Make sure your home is well insulated. 

• Weather strip and caulk windows and doors to seal small cracks. 

• Insulate your water heater and set the temperature as reasonably low as possible. 

Click here for additional information on ways to use less energy and save. You can also call Energy Services at 252-551-1522 for specific information about reducing energy usage.

In addition, GUC offers the following programs:

ENERGY SURVEYS: GUC offers free Energy Surveys for residential and light commercial structures. An Energy Specialist will make an on-site evaluation, checking for insulation, caulking, weather-stripping, heating system efficiency and other energy-related items. After careful analysis of your specific situation, the Specialist will suggest measures to reduce energy usage. Call 252-551-1525 for more information.

ONLINE ENERGY AUDIT: Greenville Utilities offers Energy Depot®, a set of online tools and resources to help you better understand and manage your energy use and costs. Energy Depot is your one-stop resource for energy information and it's available free.

EQUAL PAY: For customers who are interested in avoiding “spikes” in their utility bills, GUC offers Equal Pay. With this bill payment option, customers pay the same amount for 12 consecutive months. Payments are based on the average of the customer’s bills from the year before. Any necessary adjustments are made at the end of the year.

BEAT-THE-PEAK: GUC residential electric customers can sign up for Beat-the-Peak and save up to $70/year on their utility bills. Beat-the-Peak is a system that cycles off air conditioners, water heaters, electric furnaces and heat pump heat strips for a short period of time during peak demand. Peaks occur when customers are using the greatest amount of electricity. Click here to get started online, or call 252-551-1583.