Winter is Coming... Let's Talk about Energy Savings
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Cold Weather and Your Electric Bill
Welcome to autumn. The days are growing shorter, and temperatures have started to drop. After a long, hot summer, it may seem too early to start thinking about the upcoming winter weather and how it can affect your energy bills. But now is the perfect time to plan and prepare for those inevitably frigid winter days.
Most multifamily properties in our area utilize electric heat pumps to provide warmth in each unit during cold winter days. This is in direct contrast to most single-family homes, which employ gas heat in the winter. These different options result in different types of energy bills.
Because heat pumps are electrically powered, the energy used is part of your electricity bill. It is typically the lion’s share of your electric usage each month. This is one reason it is not unusual for electric bills in apartments and condominiums to be higher than in single-family homes.
Heating your unit can use more than half of your monthly electricity. This expense is particularly onerous when the temperature drops below 30 degrees, causing less efficient heat pumps to switch to auxiliary or emergency heat. Watch this informative video to learn more about heat pumps and how they can impact your electric bill.
Check Your Rate
Because heating and cooling your residence accounts for such a large share of your total electricity use, your energy bills will vary throughout the seasons. Hot summer heat waves and frigid winter cold snaps can profoundly impact your utility bill. When this happens, it is normal to question your bill and whether you are being charged fairly for your electricity use.
The good news is that if you live in Ohio, you can quickly check the accuracy of the rates you are being charged for yourself. Nationwide Energy Partners is obligated to never charge at a rate that exceeds the local utility’s rate for the same usage. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) provides a Utility Rate Survey Dashboard you can visit to verify your rate. Additionally, each Ohio utility must provide the same rate information on their websites.
If you have any questions on how to use the dashboard or find the rates on the host utilities’ sites, or if you do not reside in Ohio, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our resident support experts at 877-818-2637, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 6:00 pm EST.