Heat wave, rate increase hit July energy bill

Energy bills are going up this month for Wilson Energy customers as July is the first month of the energy provider’s two-year rate riders. The increase happens to coincide with a heat wave that also brings increased costs as air conditioners are put to the test.

City of Wilson spokeswoman Rebecca Agner said with the hot temperatures over the last few weeks, usage is up across the board from months prior.

“Our system continues to perform as expected with no issues,” Agner said. “Though we have seen very hot temperatures in the last few weeks, more power is used during winter months of extreme cold or in late summer with multiple days and nights of high heat.”

The rising energy prices are due to a brief increase in natural gas prices during a winter storm that will cost Wilson Energy consumers more than $16 million. ElectriCities CEO Roy Jones came before the Wilson City Council at its April meeting to say natural gas purchasing through January 2023 exceeded $6 per unit, leaving an unprecedented bill for ElectriCities customers. He said the normal rate for natural gas is about $2 per unit.

City Manager Grant Goings said Wilson faces another energy struggle in losing its second biggest customer, the Ardagh Group.

Between the rate riders and the loss of Ardagh, Wilson Energy customers face a 10.9% electricity bill increase, 6.3% of which is temporary. Even with the proposed rate increase, Goings said Wilson Energy’s electric service is still cheaper than it was a decade ago, and it’s cheaper than Duke Energy and the national average today.

TIPS FOR SAVING ENERGY THIS SUMMER

Amid the increases, Agner shared energy saving tips for Wilson Energy customers this summer:

• Keep your thermostat set at 78-80 degrees. For every degree over 78, you’ll save 6% to 8% on cooling costs. Don’t adjust your thermostat through the day and don’t set it more than 20 degrees lower than the outside temperature.

• Use a ceiling fan or portable fan along with your air conditioner. A fan can make you feel 4 degrees cooler and costs much less to operate. It won’t cool an empty room, however, so be sure to turn it off when you leave. Fans cool people, not rooms.

• Maintain your central unit by having a professional check it once a year. A unit working improperly can make your bills higher, especially for older units.

• Use curtains, blinds and shades to your advantage. Sunlight hitting windows will heat your house, so keep blinds closed during the day.

• Limit the use of your oven when it’s hot outside. Use a microwave, toaster oven or outdoor grill in lieu of the oven.

• Use the clothes dryer at night when the outdoor temperature is lower and don’t use the heated drying cycle on your dishwasher.

• Add weather-stripping and caulking to keep the heat out and cool air in. A drafty home can cause your cooling costs to skyrocket.

• Limit the use of lighting during long summer days by keeping lights off as much as possible. LED lights emit less heat than traditional incandescent light bulbs. LED lights also use 80% to 90% less energy than traditional light bulbs.

• Replace air filters regularly and make sure vents are not blocked by furniture.

• Unplug cords or appliance you would normally keep plugged in all the time, like your cell phone charger. Only plug it in when needed.

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