GAHANNA, OH, February 2, 2010 – AEP Ohio, a unit of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), has several ways to help customers pay what may be higher-than-usual electric bills brought on by the recent extremely cold temperatures.
"In cold weather, furnaces and heat pumps run longer to maintain a comfortable level inside the home. If the indoor thermostat stays the same regardless of the outside temperature, furnaces and heat pumps will run longer to maintain set temperatures," said Karen Sloneker, Director Customer Services and Marketing. "Shorter winter days also mean lights are turned on earlier and stay on longer."
To help manage energy bills, AEP Ohio recommends the Equal Payment Plan (EPP). An EPP customer is billed a fixed amount each month based on the customer´s average electric usage over a 12-month period. Every six months, AEP Ohio reviews the customer account to determine if the EPP cost is accurate. Adjustments are made at the time of review.
Also, customers who have difficulty paying their bills or have an unexpected or an unusually high electric bill can arrange special payment plans. Sloneker urges customers to contact AEP Ohio at 1-800-672-2231 to discuss bill payment options and to visit the company’s gridSMART website at gridsmartohio.com for energy efficiency information.
To reduce utility bills and conserve energy whenever possible, AEP Ohio recommends customers:
- Caulk and weather strip around doors and windows.
- Set thermostats to the lowest comfortable temperature.
- Open drapes and blinds during sunny daylight hours to allow the sun to warm their homes.
- Clean registers and furnace filters often.
- Wrap insulation around water heaters and hot water pipes.
- Take showers instead of baths.
- Add high-quality insulation to attics and outside walls.
- Install an energy-efficient heating and cooling system, such as an add-on electric heat pump.