Why is my bill so high this winter?
The simple answer is that it’s been colder than normal lately, but there are also other factors that can make a difference in your bill. Below are a few to take into consideration.
Mother Nature
Your energy usage can creep up quickly when heating your home in the winter, which means higher than usual electric bills.
There are a lot of factors at play—from how well your home is insulated to your furnace working overtime to combat the frigid weather we’ve experienced in Ohio lately. Homes with electric heating systems can see especially large jumps.
Extra Billing Days
It’s normal for the number of days in each billing cycle to change from month to month. More days per cycle will cause your bill to be higher. You can see the number of days in your billing cycle on the front page of your bill.
Energy Supply Rates
AEP Ohio delivers energy to your home and maintains power lines and equipment. Customers who select another company to supply their power through our lines may have different rates. See page three of your bill to learn about choosing who generates your power and visit http://www.energychoice.ohio.gov for energy providers and their rates.
Electric Heat/Heat Pumps
Even if you have lowered your thermostat, extremely cold weather can require your heat pump to change how it operates.
When the temperature outside falls below a certain degree, supplemental heat may kick in to help your system run.
In extreme cold periods, when heating needs are the highest, most of the heat provided comes from the less efficient supplemental heat.
This is how your bill can increase, even if it seems you haven’t done anything differently.
If you have used the emergency heat option on your heat pump, you will most likely need to manually change your thermostat back to normal or you will continue to use resistance heat.
This video will help you better understand your heat pump and how it works in cold temperatures:
Gas Furnaces
Even if you rely on your natural gas furnace as your home’s main heat source, your electricity bill can still increase. Your natural gas furnace most likely relies on an electricity-powered blower to help move hot air through your home’s ductwork. That electricity-powered blower is operating longer and harder to keep the same temperatures in your home when the outside temperature plummets.
Portable Space Heaters
In extreme cold periods, many people supplement their normal heating system with portable electric space heaters. Electricity to run just one 1,500 watt space heater can cost more than $4 a day, or $30 a week and $130 a month.
Wood or Pellet-burning Stoves
These heat sources may also indirectly impact your electricity bill. While there are higher-efficiency stoves now available, they still require venting and blower fans to exhaust fumes and smoke from your house.
* This information is meant to give you an overview of your heating source’s operation. Consult your system’s manufacturer for specific information.