We haven't had long spells of really cold weather yet but you know they're coming. Sheila Pounders, Director of Customer Service for Entergy  says,

Mild days are an ideal time to take some simple measures so the cold air will stay outside where it belongs. Something as easy as sealing leaks around your doors or windows can go a long way in making your home energy efficient.

One of the simplest things you can do to lower your electric bill is to set your thermostat at 68 degrees and add a layer of clothing if needed. Each degree of heat over 68 can add to 3 percent to your bill so if you set your thermostat at 78 you might raise your bill 10 percent.

Other tips from Entergy include:

  • Keep all doors and windows closed when the heat is on
  • Open drapes to let warm sunlight in during the day. Close them at night to reduce heat loss
  • Do not block heat registers or air returns with curtains or furniture
  • Check air and furnace filters every 30 days and clean or replace as needed
  • Wrap your electric water heater with a heater blanket and set the thermostat for 120 degrees
  • Close the damper on fire places when not in use
  • When changing light bulbs replace with energy efficient models such as Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent bulbs that use 70 percent less energy
  • If you plan to be away from home for a few days set your heaters thermostat to 55

For more tips and clear, do-it-yourself videos visit entergy.com/savemoney.

You can also sign up for Level Billing to eliminate spikes in billing caused by extreme temperatures.

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