Piedmont Natural Gas is advising customers in the Southeast to take steps to manage energy use and control heating costs as colder weather arrives. The company has released several tips aimed at helping households stay comfortable while reducing their natural gas bills.
Customers are encouraged to set thermostats to the lowest comfortable temperature and consider installing smart or programmable thermostats, which can help cut energy use when residents are asleep or away. Piedmont also suggests using sunlight for warmth by opening drapes during the day and closing them at night to retain heat.
Regularly changing air filters can make heating systems more efficient, while lowering water heater temperatures to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or switching to tankless models may further reduce costs. Sealing cracks and openings with caulk or weatherstripping is recommended as a quick way to save on heating and cooling expenses, potentially cutting those bills by 10% to 20%. Setting ceiling fans to run clockwise helps distribute warm air throughout rooms.
Piedmont offers online tools for customers who want more insight into their energy consumption. These include access to monthly gas usage history, an Energy Advisor tool that analyzes home efficiency based on personalized data, and calculators for estimating annual energy costs from water heaters, cooking appliances, and clothes dryers. A video explaining factors affecting natural gas bills is available on the company’s website.
To help manage seasonal fluctuations in billing amounts, Piedmont promotes its Equal Payment Plan (EPP) program. This free program averages a customer’s annual usage into equal monthly payments, providing predictability throughout the year.
For those needing financial assistance with utility bills, programs such as Share the Warmth provide funds through local agencies regardless of fuel type used in homes. Additionally, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) offers support for paying various home energy costs. More details about these programs are available at piedmontng.com/AssistancePrograms and state-specific resources can be found at piedmontng.com/WinterBills.
Piedmont Natural Gas is a subsidiary of Duke Energy serving over 1.2 million customers across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
“Piedmont says anyone in need can apply for this and other newly available programs to see if they qualify. For more information, go to piedmontng.com/AssistancePrograms. For detailed federal and state-specific information, go to piedmontng.com/WinterBills and click on your state.”
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