An Electricity Guide for the Coldest Time of the Year

Current temperatures reflect the coldest extended stretch we’ve seen in the Valley in recent history. This inevitably leads to more electric consumption as you rely on your heating system to keep you warm. Electric use comes at a cost, and more of it, such as during this below-freezing period, simply means you will be paying more for it.

Think of it in terms of the driving impact if you are pulling a trailer. There’s more strain on your vehicle. You will need more gas to reach your destination, and you then pay more as a consequence. In a similar vein, you need more electricity to heat your home now while there is more strain on your system, and you then pay more for it.

SVEC is here to help you understand your bill and find ways to keep it lower, in the face of the bitter cold of a polar vortex. Below are several resources and tips to help get you through.

Understanding Your Bill

There are a lot of components to an electric bill. Did you know most of what you are charged by SVEC are costs that the cooperative incurs from its power provider?

That means the cooperative does not control these charges. As a member-owned cooperative, we do not want to pay more for electricity from our power provider any more than you want to pay us more for your electric use. Higher bills during the winter do not reflect higher charges from SVEC.

Learn more about your bill here and watch a video explanation here.

Beat the Peak

On a related note, this is why we have the Beat the Peak program: If our members can collectively use less electricity during times when it is in peak demand, future rate increases can be better managed. Sign up for alerts here.

Tips for Saving During the Winter

• Turn thermostats down to a setting that’s comfortable to you, but still lower than you might normally keep it. The recommended winter setting is 68 degrees. Wear heavier clothing to keep you warm.
• Check your thermostat settings. Some heat pumps will change to auxiliary or emergency heat when it’s extremely cold, and these settings can be expensive. You may need to change the setting back to normal heat.
• Use space heaters only to heat you. Do not expect them to heat an entire room. For safety reasons, do not leave them unattended, and do not use an extension cord to plug them in.
• Open curtains during the day, and close them at night.
• Reverse ceiling fans. If you reverse your ceiling fans to turn clockwise during colder months, the rotation will push warm air down and pull cooler air up so you stay comfortable without adjusting your thermostat.
• Wash only full loads of clothes and dishes.

Where to Learn More

• Check out our home energy calculator.
• Register your account online to see your usage history, pay bills and more.
• Contact SVEC at 1-800-234-7832, and a member service representative will review your account. In times of high bills, also keep in mind the number of billing days, as some bills might reflect longer periods.

Here's to a safe and warm winter, from your electric cooperative.