ATLANTA, Ga. — With colder air settling over the state, Georgia Power is pointing its customers toward a list of cheap and free fixes meant to keep winter electric bills from climbing.
Heating can make up as much as half of a typical home’s energy use in winter, the utility says, so the biggest savings come from how a house holds onto warm air. Its advice starts with the gaps: if daylight shows around an exterior door, a strip of weather stripping or a bead of caulk can close it. Replacing worn seals around doors and windows can cut energy use by up to 10%, according to the company.
The thermostat is the next lever. Georgia Power suggests a setting of 68 degrees or below, noting that each degree lower can trim consumption by roughly 3% to 4%. A programmable model that shuts the system down while a household is out can deliver savings in every season.
Some steps cost nothing. Opening blinds on sunny days lets the sun warm a room, and closing them after dark keeps out the chill from cold glass. Clean air filters and vents that are not blocked by furniture or drapes help warm air circulate. Standard filters should be swapped each month under the utility’s guidance, while pleated filters can last about a quarter.
Space heaters bring savings and risk together. Georgia Power warns that they should sit well away from fabric, furniture and water, out of reach of pets, and never run overnight or while no one is home. Cords should not be frayed, covered by rugs or plugged into extension cords.
Customers with online accounts can use the company’s free My Power Usage tool to follow daily use, project the month’s bill and set budget alerts.
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