KUB offers tips as temperatures start to dip
Colder temperature lead to higher thermostats, which can quickly increase energy bills.
After a fall season that remained above average for weeks on end, the cold weather is finally coming into East Tennessee. Last weekend, snow fell in some part of the Eastern portion of the state, and overnight freezes are now a regular occurrence.
As a resource, the Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB) released a guide to helping customers keep their bills low.
“We really want to be a resource and partner to help our customers stay warm, save money, and manage bills,” KUB Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Tiffany Martin said. “Now is an ideal time to get ready for winter and ensure our customers stay safe as they navigate the upcoming season of higher energy use.”
Boosting energy and saving money
- Lower your thermostat’s regular setting as low as safely and comfortably possible, and dress in layers. Each degree change can save approximately three percent on your bill when lower settings are consistent over time.
- To prevent costly water pipe bursts, insulate pipes in crawl spaces, in attics, near outer walls, and in other unconditioned areas.
- Start a very slow drip on your faucets situated on exterior facing walls when temperatures are below freezing.
- Seal leaks and cracks around windows and doors. Check and replace weather stripping.
- Disconnect hoses, cover outside faucets, and close outside vents when nighttime temperatures fall below freezing.
- Set usage threshold alerts in your KUB account to be aware of abnormal spikes in usage as quickly as possible.
Finally, to avoid drastic weather-related changes in utility bills, customers can enroll in KUB’s Levelized Billing Plan (LBP). LBP calculates customer bills based on a rolling 12-month average.
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