How Much Do You Want to Pay?

Dawn M. has just completed her first year in the Corporate Communications Department and is here to share what she's learned about controlling her energy costs since starting at MLGW.

Here's the deal -- the amount I pay for utilities each month largely depends ON ME. Just like energy costs at your home largely depend on you and your family.

We, as customers, must decide "is it worth it to me to spend this money, use this time, etc. in order to save money on my utilities?"

This is where my work at MLGW really helps. Yes, there was a cold snap between October and November. I was cranking up the heat so it makes sense I used more electricity. BUT, am I really getting all that I pay for?

Probably not.

My place is in midtown and in an older building. A window unit in my living room provides both heat and A/C. It is not the most energy efficient way to keep my home warm.

What can I do to reduce costs? Again -- I'm at an advantage because of my job -- and immediately five weatherization/ cost saving measures pop into my head:

1. Insulate the windows in my home with a kit. 
2. Fill cracks with caulk, use spray foam for bigger gaps or holes. 
3. Reverse the way my ceiling fans turn.
4. Add weatherstripping around doors and windows.
5. Make a couple of draft blockers for my doors. 

What else can I do? 

Check out "My Account." 

Towards the top-right of the same webpage that provides a bill analysis you'll find a link to "Control Costs." 

Side bar -- play around with this when you have a few minutes to spare. You will get asked lots of questions. It is OK if you don't have all the answers. I did not know the answer to many of the questions asked so I guessed. The point is, DO NOT GET DISCOURAGED. Just try it. 

Once you fill out the home profile you will see a breakdown like this. For me -- the sections marked "Ways to Save," "Energy Profile" and "My Energy and Water Usage" were the most relevant.

Take a look: 

Ways to Save

The "Ways to Save" asks you to set a goal for yearly energy savings. I split the difference and went with 15% which says I should save up to $246/year. 

Energy Profile

Free stuff! When you fill out the energy profile the TVA will send you an energy efficiency starter kit. 

My Energy and Water Usage

And this part: a graph showing "My Energy and Water Usage."

I don't have a dishwasher in my house, or a washer and dryer. I rarely cook. You can tell by the graph that about 3/4 of my energy use is spent heating or cooling my home and heating water. So yeah...I really need to take care of some weatherization things around the house.

Go back to the top of the page and click the "Ways to Save" button. It will help you figure out what to do. We can walk through it together -- follow this link.

Dollar Store DIY Energy Saving Tips

If you haven't been to an MLGW energy-savings workshop, you are missing out on some great ideas. Beverly Perkins, the supervisor for Corporate Social Responsibility, is great at what she does: helping customers save energy and money.

Some of her tips are pretty common sense: set your thermostat at 68͒ in the winter, add blankets to your bed in cold weather, and wear socks walking around the house.

But there's more! Beverly has DIY (Do It Yourself) ways to weatherize your home on the cheap. Like Dollar Tree and Walmart cheap.

That's Beverly. Under the arrows, addressing the crowd. 

1. DUCT TAPE -- Duct tape the cracks and gaps around windows and doors. Stuff old, plastic grocery bags or bubble wrap into the cracks first - they'll act as insulation. Once you've stuffed it's time to seal. Seal your insulation job with duct tape. It's not pretty but it will work. Duct tape is a Dollar Tree get.

2. LED LIGHTS -- As your light bulbs burn out replace them with LED bulbs. LED bulbs last longer than CFL bulbs (CFL's are the squiggly compact florescent ones) and are usually brighter. Plus, you can find LED bulbs at Dollar Tree. For real.

3. PANTYHOSE & PAPER -- Block drafts with old pantyhose and two rolls of wrapping paper. Easy-to-find dollar store items. Here's how:

Billie Jean Miller said she's been to these workshops before
and the pantyhose/wrapping paper trick was a great tip.

1. Cut one leg off the pantyhose.
2. Add both rolls of wrapping paper.
3. Pull the rolls of paper in opposite directions as you slide the whole contraption under a drafty door. The idea is to have one roll on the outside of the door, the other roll on the inside. The pantyhose secures them against the door and since they'll roll, you don't have to move them out of the way when you want to go someplace. 

Images are just so you know what the kits look like.
We don't recommend one brand over another.

4. SOCKET SEALERS -- There's a chance you're losing heat around wall sockets as well. Cup your hand over an outlet in your home..do you feel a draft? If so, you want to pick up a pack of "socket sealers" at Walmart. They're made of fire retardant plastic and fit between the face plate and your wall. When installed correctly you cannot even see them.

5. WINDOW INSULATION -- Aldi and Walmart both sell window insulation kits that come with the plastic sheets and tape you need to cover your windows and block drafts. Using a hair dryer or heat gun (not included in kit) will help shrink the plastic to your windows giving you a tighter, better looking fit.

6. BLACKOUT CURTAINS -- Also at Walmart...energy-saving blackout curtains. Curtain panels cost between $9 and $11 and will help block drafts in the wintertime. The bigger benefit is during summer when the black out curtains help block the sun and keep rooms cool.

That's just six ways to save energy in your home - there are many more! Visit us online for energy-saving tools. Even better; come to the next MLGW weatherization workshop. Follow us to find out about upcoming events.

MLGW Tools to Help You Have the Best Year Yet

First things first 

Commit to saving energy. Take a closer look at your monthly utility bill. Do your gas, electric or water charges seem high?

Follow our thermostat guidelines: 68 or lower in the winter; 78 or higher in the summer. This small step can make a big difference on your bill.

Look for dripping water faucets, running toilets, and other leaks. Set your water heater to warm (or 120 degrees.) These are more small fixes that can add up.

Need help? Schedule an Energy Dr. visit and have one of our professionals give you a prescription for savings. Our trained technicians can help you identify whether your heating and cooling units are operating properly, whether you are losing air through windows and doors, and whether you have enough insulation in your home.

Get caught up on your bill

If you’ve been carrying a $199 balance or got caught off guard by high winter bills, we can help.

Deferred Billing payment plans, available through our Community Offices, can spread your balance over five months.

If your bill is over $600, our On Track program may be for you. You’ll get one-on-one access to a dedicated Service Advisor, a payment plan up to 36 months, and education on energy savings and budgeting.

If your winter and summer bills are way higher than your spring and summer bills, Budget Billing can level out your bill so you can pay the same amount each month.

 Never miss a payment

If late fees and cut off notices are part of your normal, take control by signing up for AutoPay. This allows you to have your payment automatically drafted from your account each month. If this sounds scary, combine it with Budget Billing so you know the amount ahead of time.

Our Text Alerts program can also keep you focused with monthly reminders of bill payments and possible cut offs.

PrePay lets you pay in advance, on your schedule.

Be in the Know

Don’t like calling or coming into an office? My Account lets you view your bill and track your energy usage online 24/7/365.

Follow us online. Our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts are updated daily with the latest news, helpful tips, and more.

Download the MLGW app! Track outages, connect to My Account, easily find important MLGW phone numbers, read news from our website and blog, and more.

Holiday Energy Saving Tips

While the holiday season is one of the most wonderful times of the year, it can also be the most costly time of the year. Outside of Christmas shopping, consumers spend a large amount of money on high utility bills. Below are some tips for saving energy during the holidays. 

Deck the Halls with LED Lights

LED Lights use 70 percent less electricity than regular incandescent Christmas lights and look just as beautiful for decorations inside and outside of your home. Although LED lights typically cost more, the cost is offset by lower energy bills and a longer lifespan. In addition, LED lights are also much more eco-friendly, brighter, and safer to use than incandescent holiday lights.

Limit the number of hours that you leave holiday lights on, this tip is even more important if you are using traditional incandescent lighting. Consider using an automatic timer, to customize lights to turn off and on at specific times of the day. 

The Weather Outside is Frightful, But the Cooking is So Delightful

Cooking multiple items at the same time is a great way to conserve energy. It takes the same amount of energy to heat a full oven as it does a nearly empty one. While it may be tempting to check food in the oven, overdoing it can contribute to wasting energy. Every time you open the oven door, you are lowering the temperature by as much as 25 degrees, increasing cooking time and energy use. For smaller items, consider using your microwave and toaster oven, this can help to reduce energy usage by 50%. 

The More, the Merrier

As more guests arrive to your home, it’s wise to turn down the thermostat several degrees, as the extra bodies create extra warmth. During the day time you can also open the curtains in your home and use the sunlight as a bonus way to bring heat inside. Try to keep your thermostat set to 68 degrees; each degree above 68 can add as much as four percent to your utility bill. 

Don’t Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle

Electronics are extremely popular gifts during Christmas time but they can also contribute to high energy bills. If you’re shopping for electronics, choose EnergyStar labeled items, which use up to 60% less energy than non-certified electronics. If you plan to be away from home during the holiday season, remember to unplug items that drain energy even when they are not being used (computers, televisions, chargers). 

Tis the Season to Be Freezing

Proper insulation is one of the biggest ways to help reduce energy costs. If your home is not properly weatherized, warm air will constantly leak from your home. Inspect your home to check for areas where air may be coming in and make necessary home improvements where needed. Seal drafty spaces and apply caulk around windows and doors to prevent heat from escaping.