Understanding Winter Energy Bills

Winter energy bills are higher for most people in our region. If you’re wondering why, we have some easy-to-use tools and resources to help.

First, it’s important to know that monthly energy bills are based a home’s energy usage. Homes use more energy when heaters are running, trying to keep temperatures inside warm.

Second, it’s important to know how your home is using energy every month. Now is a great time to check your appliances and HVAC equipment to ensure it’s working properly.

If you use a space heater, make sure it’s only in occupied rooms. A single space heater left on 24/7 can add close to $100 to a monthly bill. Leaky water heaters can be energy culprits too, wasting energy to heat water that never gets used. Dirty furnace filters and blocked air vents can also be troublesome, preventing warm air from making it to the rooms you’re trying to heat.

Washington customers with smart meters can also sign in online and use our Energy Manager tool to see how much energy specific appliances and equipment are using in their home.