Kentucky Power offers heating tips as temperatures drop

Kentucky Power offers heating tips as temperatures drop

ASHLAND, Ky. December 2, 2020 – The first week of December is bringing cold and snowy weather that likely has heating systems humming across eastern Kentucky.

There are many simple energy efficiency measures customers can put into place to save money without jeopardizing comfort, including:

• Have your furnace and ductwork inspected annually. Loose or broken ductwork accounts for up to 35 percent of home’s energy loss.
• Change furnace filters every month.
• Caulk, seal, and weather strip openings from your home to the outside.
• Increase attic insulation. Recommended level: R-38 or 10-16 inches blown.
• Unless it is equipped specifically for home heating, use your fireplace sparingly. Warm air escapes through the chimney. Close the damper when the fireplace is not being used.
• Maintain consistent temperatures. A programmable thermostat can help heat pump customers gradually change settings to limit use of the costly emergency heating mode.
• Open drapes and shades on south-facing windows to let in sun and heat during the day. Close them at night to conserve heat.

Other energy savings ideas are available at https://kentuckypower.com/save/residential/learn/Heating.aspx

Customers also are encouraged to consider signing up for the average monthly payment plan (AMP). AMP is designed to level out bills over a 12-month cycle so that customers do not experience summer and winter spikes, when usage is typically at its highest.

Customers who are experiencing financial hardship should contact the company’s 24-hour Customer Operations Center at 800-572-1113 to discuss payment options. For those needing assistance with their bill can find their local community action office at https://www.capky.org/. Community action agencies offer assistance through several programs including Kentucky Power’s HEART and THAW winter assistance programs.

Kentucky Power, with headquarters in Ashland, provides service to about 165,000 customers in 20 eastern Kentucky counties. It is an operating company in the AEP system.