BGE
Offers New Budget Billing Plan Options to Help Customers with High
Bills in Response to Significant Increases in Energy Usage Resulting
from Consecutive Weeks of Extremely Cold Temperatures
BGE
is offering customers immediate enrollment into its Budget Billing
program, which spreads payments out over a 12 month period and reduces
seasonal increases in energy usage
Customers can also find tips on saving energy and money at BGE.com/WinterReady and BGESmartEnergy.com
BALTIMORE, (Jan. 28, 2014) – As another wave of frigid temperatures impacts central Maryland this week, BGE
is providing enhanced billing options to help customers with current
and future energy bills, in response to a significant increase in
customer usage. According to the WSI Weather Service, this winter has
been 11 percent colder than last winter to date, and as a result
customer energy usage has increased, on average, by 10 percent in the
month of January alone, compared to last year. Starting Jan. 29,
customers may contact BGE to discuss their Budget Billing and other
special payment options.
“To
assist customers with high winter heating bills, we are offering
customers immediate enrollment into our Budget Billing program, which
spreads payments out over a 12 month period so customers aren’t as
affected by seasonal increases in usage,” said Carol Dodson, vice
president and chief customer officer for BGE. “Typically, the enrollment
process takes a full billing cycle. Customers who wish to enroll in
Budget Billing should call BGE at 800.685.0123 and we will incorporate their current winter bills, thus spreading out their utility costs over a full-year average. ”
In
direct response to spikes in customer usage from extreme temperatures,
BGE is now offering customers an opportunity to enroll in a retroactive
Budget Billing program to assist customers with higher-than-normal
energy bills. For customers who have up to $500 in arrearages, the
company is allowing those customers to enroll in the new retroactive
Budget Billing program as well to help alleviate the increase from the
current colder-than-normal winter season.
Customers
who may have more than $500 in arrearages are encouraged to call BGE to
discuss their payment options as well. Limited income customers are
strongly encouraged to apply for energy assistance before they are in
crisis. For more information, call BGE or contact the Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP) at 800.352.1446. Residents of Baltimore City should call 410.396.5555. Grants can help address past-due amounts as well as future payments. Learn more at bge.com/financialassistance.
For
customers who purchase their gas and electric supply from BGE, the new
Budget Billing amount would reflect the total BGE bill, including
commodity and delivery amounts. For customers who purchase their supply
from a third-party supplier, the Budget Billing amount will only cover
the BGE delivery service charges. Some third-party suppliers may offer a
similar service as BGE’s Budget Billing program, but others do not.
Customers who currently purchase their supply from a third-party
supplier and wish to know their billing options should reach out
directly to their supplier.
Although
BGE gas and electric commodity prices remained stable throughout
December and January, without taking steps to save energy during these
times, energy bills will reflect additional usage and will be higher
than in months when temperatures are more moderate.
In
February, BGE anticipates that the commodity price for natural gas will
increase; however, BGE’s acquisition strategy helps limit the impact of
rising prices during months when demand is increasing and customers who
purchase their natural gas from BGE should not see a significant impact
from the rising commodity price in the global energy market.
Due
to BGE’s “revenue decoupling” mechanism, the company does not benefit
financially from customers using more energy during abnormally cold or
hot weather conditions. For example, in January any increase in delivery
service revenues per customer above a weather normalized historic
average, is balanced by a lowering of the Delivery Service rate for all
customers in that rate class in March. In March, BGE is expecting that
this will result in a 10 percent decrease in the residential electric
distribution rate. Residential gas delivery service rates are expected
to be similarly reduced in March. These rate decreases will continue in
future months until the full amount has been flowed back to customers.
“As
we enter into the third consecutive week where temperatures have
dropped below freezing, BGE reminds customers that while we cannot
control the weather, we can control how we use and save energy during
the colder winter months,” said Dodson. “Extremely low temperatures will
likely cause energy usage to increase, even for customers who leave
their thermostats at a set temperature, as heating system need to work
harder to maintain that set temperature. The WinterReady section on bge.com is specifically designed to help customers weather the cold temperatures that affect central Maryland each year.”
BGE
reminds customers of low-to-no cost tips for saving energy and money,
despite the extreme temperatures. The following are steps that all
customers can take to reduce energy consumption and lower heating bills:
· During
the winter, heating systems typically account for more than 40 percent
of customers’ energy bills. For systems other than heat pumps, set
thermostats at 68 degrees F, if health allows. For every degree below 73
degrees, customers can see a 2-4 percent decrease in energy use.
· Customers
who heat with older model electric heat pumps are especially vulnerable
to sharp increases in usage when auxiliary heating is activated during
cold weather. On days where the temperature dips below freezing, a heat
pump can use 2 to 3 times as much energy as it does compared to periods
where the temperature is above 30 to 40 degrees. Customers who heat
with heat pumps should check with the manufacturer for recommendations
on the temperature setting to ensure that systems are working at the
highest efficiency.
· Natural
gas customers should consider setting the thermostat to 68 degrees
during the day and 65 degrees at night. This can help customers see a
3-4 percent decrease in energy use.
· Change the furnace filter regularly. A dirty filter forces the furnace to work harder.
· Install
an approved insulation blanket around the water heater and insulate the
first three feet of water pipe (keep insulation at least 6 inches from
the flue on gas water heaters).
· Lower
the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees F and conserve hot
water when you can. Heating water is the second largest use of energy in
your home in the winter months.
· Open curtains and drapes during the day, to let the sun warm your home, and close them at night for insulation.
· Don’t heat unused spaces. Close vents in unused rooms and shut doors to unused rooms, closets and basements.
· Caulk and weather strip windows and doors to keep cold air out.
· Check/add attic insulation to reach a level of R-38 or 12 inches.
· Wash clothes in cold or warm water and rinse in cold water to reduce water heater usage.
· Over the long term, make your home or business more energy efficient, using BGE’s Quick Home Energy Check-up or Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, improved insulation, high efficiency appliances and other measures.
· Have
the furnace checked by a licensed professional to be sure it is
operating efficiently and seal any leaks in furnace ducts. BGE offers
rebates for these and other home efficiency improvements through the BGE Smart Energy Savers Program®.
“While
colder temperatures are the primary driver for increased energy use
during the heating season, there are many other contributing factors,
some of which may not be as obvious,” continued Dodson. “When it’s
bitter cold outside, many families spend more time at home, cooking,
watching television, and using computers and other electronics. We
encourage you to talk to your family about simple steps everyone can
take each day, to decrease energy use in your household.”
Shopping for a competitive third-party supplier, combined with the offerings of BGE’s Smart Energy Savers Program®,
provides customers with many options for reducing their energy bill and
better managing energy costs this winter. For more information on
Energy Choice visit bge.com/energychoice. Customers are also encouraged to visit bge.com and www.bgesmartenergy.com for more energy-saving tips.
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