As colder weather is expected in the Southeast, Piedmont Natural Gas has released a set of recommendations to help customers manage their energy use and costs during the winter months. The company suggests practical steps such as setting thermostats to the lowest comfortable temperature, using smart or programmable thermostats, and taking advantage of sunlight by keeping drapes open during the day and closed at night.
Additional tips include changing air filters regularly to ensure heating systems run efficiently, setting water heater temperatures to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, sealing cracks and openings in homes to prevent heat loss, and running ceiling fans clockwise to circulate warm air.
Piedmont Natural Gas also offers several online tools for customers. These include access to gas usage history, an Energy Advisor tool that evaluates home efficiency based on personalized data, and calculators for estimating annual energy costs related to water heating, cooking, and clothes drying. A video explaining factors affecting natural gas bills is available on the company’s website.
To help with budgeting for utility bills, Piedmont promotes its Equal Payment Plan (EPP), which allows customers to pay a consistent monthly amount based on their average annual usage. This program aims to prevent unexpected fluctuations in billing amounts.
For those needing financial assistance, programs such as Share the Warmth provide funds through local agencies for families struggling with utility payments. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is also available for qualifying households. More information about these programs can be found at piedmontng.com/AssistancePrograms and detailed federal or state-specific resources are accessible at piedmontng.com/WinterBills.
Piedmont Natural Gas is a subsidiary of Duke Energy and serves over 1.2 million customers across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
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