As you may have heard, there is a predicted cold snap on its way. When cold weather such as this hits, customers who heat their home with gas or electricity can see a significant increase in their energy usage.
For example, if we have more than three days of 10 to 14 degrees below normal temperatures, our average customers see an increase in energy use of 25 to 50 percent over that time frame, depending on individual household circumstances.
Home heating during the winter months adds up to more than half of the energy used. When we have periods of colder than normal weather our heating system works harder – even if you don’t touch the thermostat.
Avoid being surprised by a higher-than-expected energy bill. Sign up for Avista's new budget alerts.
During enrollment, Avista will provide your high, low and average bill amounts from the previous year. That way you can set a desired monthly budget alert. Afterwards, we'll track your daily energy usage through your new smart meter. If during the month we estimate your bill will exceed the amount you set, you'll be alerted immediately by text or email. So you can take steps to reduce your energy usage before your bill comes out.
For peace of mind, enroll today. While you're at it, also sign up for our outage alerts and billing notifications (to see your due date and bill amount).
The simplest way to sign up for alerts is to sign in to your online account and go to Alert Preferences. Here, you can choose the alerts you want to receive, if you want to receive them by email or text, and who should receive them.