Alabama Power offers ways to save on bills ahead of winter

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ( WIAT ) — Alabama Power is advising customers to take steps toward reducing their power bills during the colder months ahead.

The statewide electric company listed the following tips to keep in mind in preparation for the fall and winter seasons:

1. Appliance/Equipment checkups: Have a qualified technician perform checkups on your
   electric appliances and equipment, especially your heating system. There may be ways to make your home and unit more efficient, leading to lower electric bill costs.
2. Insulate and seal drafty areas: Check weather stripping around drafty areas like doors
   and windows and reapply stripping or caulk to keep warm air inside.
3. Update to more energy-efficient appliances: Upgrading to more green appliances and products can greatly reduce energy usage and costs over time. Check out Alabama Power’s Energy Star products here.
4. Start lowering your thermostat now: According to the Department of Energy, you can save
   up to 10% a year on your heating costs by lowering your thermostat 7-10 degrees for eight hours a day.

Funds are available through the Alabama Business Charitable Trust for customers who need help weatherizing their homes. Home Forward Grants provide up to $5,000 in energy efficiency optimization for eligible families.

Additionally, Alabama Power offers billing and payment options to help customers keep costs low. One free service example is Budget Billing, which allows eligible customers to pay an averaged bill monthly based on annual use. Click here for more information.

• FlatBill is an optional residential rate plan that offers a contracted fixed bill amount for a
  12-month period based on a customer’s previous year’s history at their current location. Overall, the customer gets a simple, predictable monthly bill with no surprises for a full
  year.
• Through Alabama Power’s Residential Pricing and Rate Plans, customers may be able to save money on their power bill based on how and when they use electricity.
• Electronic Home Energy Reports (eHERS) are generated monthly to compare a customer’s power usage over time. They also provide helpful insights and recommendations to help individual customers reduce energy use.

More tips on “winterizing” your home and managing a winter season’s power bill can be found on Alabama Power’s website.

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