When record-setting cold temperatures hit the area, most of us stay indoors and look for ways to stay warm. This can mean you may see higher-than-normal electric bills the following month, which begs the question: “Why does my bill go up when it’s cold outside?”
- It’s a frigid fact that you use more energy in cold weather.
- Most people spend more time at home in the cold weather, thus using more energy.
- Your heating system works much harder to keep your home comfortable in cold weather. Even if you don’t change your thermostat setting, it runs longer to heat your home. And if it’s an older furnace or heat system, it may have to work harder to keep you warm enough to combat those bone-chilling temperatures we experienced.
- Even gas heating systems use electricity to power the fan and distribute the warm air.
- Chances are, you took more hot showers, baths, and used more hot water in general.
- You may have also used space heaters and electric blankets more than usual, which can consume a lot of energy when left on for hours.
Monitor your energy use through SmartHub to see where spikes occur
To monitor your energy use and set up alerts for when your usage is high, use our account manager account, SmartHub. Create an account, either on a desktop or download the free mobile app. In SmartHub, you can view your yearly, monthly, daily, or even hourly electric use. This can help you see when you use a normal amount of energy and when your energy usage spikes. By monitoring your usage closely, you can identify what you did differently to make your usage go up or down. Changing your behavior around those spikes can help you save on your bill. You can even set energy use alerts that notify you when you go over a pre-set amount. Learn more about SmartHub here.
Take advantage of our energy calculators.
Break down each appliance and see how much you are spending on each. Learn more about our energy calculators here.
Speak with our energy experts or schedule an energy audit.
If you are concerned about your electric bill, call us at 800-962-3830 to speak with our energy advisor. We may be able to recommend specific solutions to help with your electric bills. We can also schedule an energy audit to get an in-depth look at where your energy dollars are going and suggest DIY home improvements you can make for improved energy efficiency. In the wintertime especially, a leaky house can cost you a LOT in heating bills, as your warm air leaks out and frigid air comes in through cracks around your windows, doors, attic cover, and more. Learn more about energy experts and audits here.
Save with Rebates and Incentives
Midwest Electric provides rebates and incentives to our residential members for various energy-efficient equipment purchases and upgrades. Rebates are for new ENERGY STAR certified equipment. Current rebates and incentives include Geothermal, Heat Pump, Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pump, Air Conditioning Rebate, Smart Thermostat, Water Heater, Electric Vehicle - Level 2 Charger, Insulation, New Home Construction, Reduced Electric Rate, and Tax incentives. Learn more about rebates here.
