With February approaching and the height of winter near, customers may see an increase in energy use and a higher electric bill as outdoor temperatures fall.
Electric heat can be one of the biggest users of electricity in a home. The gap between the outdoor temperature and the temperature inside can impact a customer’s usage significantly. The larger the gap, the more the heating system needs to work to sustain the preferred indoor temperature.
Take Action
New advances now allow customers to better monitor their electricity use with APCo’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meters.
The AMI meter records electric usage in 15-minute intervals, 24-hours a day, which can be viewed on a customer’s Appalachian Power online account.
AMI meters put the power to control energy use in customers’ hands by providing many ways to see what consumes energy in the home: identifying when usage spikes, such as when an electric heater runs; assessing how kitchen appliances affect daily consumption; and monitoring in real time how conservation efforts reduce usage.
In addition, customers with a registered online account, also receive a Weekly Electricity Update email, which summarizes the prior week’s energy use, helping them spot trends and adjust habits.
Customers who haven’t received a Weekly Electricity Update email should check their spam folder or update their email address either through their online account at AppalachianPower.com/Account or by calling the Customer Operations Center at 1-800-956-4237.
We’re Here to Help
We understand that financial hardships happen, and sometimes customers may need a little extra support paying their bill. With our help, either online or by phone, and a quick review of a customer’s account, we can help determine the best options. Here are some plans that may be utilized:
- Extended Payment Arrangements – Deferring an account balance to future months by regular monthly payments may help give a customer the flexibility they need.
- Extensions – Just need a few extra days for one payment? A one-time payment extension may be the solution.
- Average Monthly Payment (AMP) Program – Eliminate the highs and lows of winter and summer bills with the AMP program, which averages your home’s electric bills for the entire year, so customers pay about the same amount each month.
If customers would like assistance with a payment arrangement or help understanding their usage, please visit AppalachianPower.com or call 800-956-4237 to talk to one of our trained customer care agents.