There’s no denying it: winter is here in Alberta. Across the province, households will be hunkering down and trying to stay warm through the next few months. While it may be tempting to plug in a space heater and crank the thermostat, it’s important to be smart about your energy consumption to keep your costs under control.
To help get you started, you’ll find four of PowerBill’s top tips for saving on utilities this winter. Additionally, you’ll find more information about how keeping it simple with PowerBill can give your household reliable, affordable utility service year-round.
1. Draft-Proof Your Home
No matter the time of year, holes, cracks and gaps are some of the biggest culprits costing you money on your utilities. The good news is that winter is the easiest time to detect these issues; if you notice a draft coming in from a door, window, or wall, it means you are losing heat (and money).
Depending on the specific issue, there are plenty of potential fixes for drafts, ranging from relatively cost-effective solutions to expensive renovations. An excellent place to start is with window insulation kits available at most hardware stores. There are also plenty of do-it-yourself solutions online for stopping drafts around door frames.
2. Let the Light In During the Day
Smart consumers may already know that keeping blinds and curtains closed during the hot summer months can prevent air from heating up in your home. Similarly, letting the sunshine come in during the (admittedly short) day can help warm the air inside your home. While it won’t replace your furnace any time soon, every little bit helps when it comes to staying warm.
3. Program Your Thermostat
Many modern thermostats have the option to program different temperatures for different times of the day. These thermostats allow you to find the right balance between comfort and conserving energy, depending on the weather, what you’re doing, and how warm you need to be in different areas of your home.
Don’t have a programmable thermostat? No problem; set a timer on your phone to remind you to adjust the temperature throughout the day. Don’t forget to turn it down when you’re heading out for the day!
4. Don’t Leave Appliances on Standby Mode
This is good advice for any time of year, but it’s especially important during winter, with Christmas lights, space, heaters, and other appliances. As long as an appliance is plugged into the wall, it’s consuming power; be sure to unplug any lights, appliances, and other non-essential items when they aren’t in use.
Keep It Simple and Save with PowerBill
Utilities shouldn’t be complicated for Albertans; households and businesses shouldn’t have to deal with long-term contracts, hidden fees, and other utility companies’ bureaucracy to get the service they need. With low floating rates, no hidden markups, and some of the industry’s lowest fees, PowerBill’s commitment to keeping it simple gives our customers clarity, peace of mind, and fairness along with reliable electricity and natural gas service.
At PowerBill, we strive the be the easy choice for Albertans’ electricity needs. This starts with making it easier than ever to get started. Simply fill out our online signup form, submit it to us, and let us do the rest. We’ll work with you to seamlessly transition from your current provider, and get you started with fair utility service for you and your family.
Ready To Get Started?
Sign up now using our online portal, or contact us today to learn more about PowerBill’s utility solutions.