Ready for more winter?

As the second half of winter begins, Black Hills Energy is offering customers advice on how to stay safe and how the lower temperatures and weather-related usage could impact their bill.

Weather Safety

Anytime a community is threatened with inclement weather, Blacks Hills Energy is watching closely. The company advises customers to follow these tips before, during and after a storm:

• Before the storm, know where your natural gas meter and service are located, check your emergency kit and make a plan.
• During the storm, it’s important to heat your home safely by knowing the dangers of carbon monoxide: a colorless, odorless gas that can be deadly. Install carbon monoxide detectors, check them regularly and never use generators, grills or other outdoor appliances indoors.
• After the storm, check for damage by gently clearing debris from the natural gas meter and visually inspecting your electricity service mast. If you smell natural gas, leave the area immediately and call 911 or the Black Hills Energy emergency number at 1-800-694-8989.

Understanding Your Bill

Even though you might not have touched your thermostat, the workload on your heater increased as the temperature dropped. If your thermostat was set at 68 degrees inside and it was 18 degrees outside, it took an additional 50 degrees of heat and energy to make up that difference. Compared to a 48-degree day, your thermostat would only need to make up a 20-degree difference.

Fortunately, your monthly bill makes it easy for you to identify key information, understand your energy costs and monitor your usage. You can easily compare this month’s usage to the same time last year and view reasons why your bill may have changed.

One reason your bill may vary from month-to-month is the price of natural gas, which is a large component of a customer’s bill that Black Hills Energy does not profit from. The price of natural gas can fluctuate depending on supply and demand, weather conditions and other factors.

Help with Higher-Than-Normal Bills

Black Hills Energy has the power to to make its customers’ lives easier in just a few clicks and is encouraging them to follow a few tips to help lower higher bills caused by recent cold weather:

• Online account access allows customers to easily pay their bills and monitor usage
• Low Income Qualified Energy Assistance Program is a federal funded program that helps eligible households pay a portion of their home energy costs by providing a once-per-year benefit
• Black Hills Cares offers up to $500 in utility assistance by partnering with http://www.energyshareofwyoming.org to provide annual support to qualifying families in need.
• Budget Billing is a free, stable billing plan that gives more predictable bills by averaging the amount paid each month.
• Payment arrangements can help a customer get back on track because of unexpected circumstances.