Contact: NOVEC Public Relations, 1-888-335-0500, [email protected]
NOVEC offers ways to save energy and manage bills
MANASSAS,
Va. –Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative anticipates that the below-normal
temperatures in January and the very cold weather approaching for Valentine's weekend
will be reflected in customers' monthly bills. NOVEC suggests ways to use less
energy and manage bill paying.
"Electric
bills are usually high in winter because of heating homes and keeping lights on
longer during standard time," explains Bob Cornwell, NOVEC energy services
specialist. "But bills this year have been affected by extremely cold weather. January
temperatures averaged 31 degrees F -- two and a half degrees colder than
normal. And other than last Sunday, it looks like February is on track to be
below normal as well. Many customers want to know how they can lower and manage
their energy use. We're here to help."
Cornwell
anticipates that homeowners with heat pumps will notice higher bills: "A heat
pump will save money when winter temperatures are moderate, depending on how
efficient the heat pump is and how well a house is insulated. But when outdoor
temperatures drop below freezing, as they have done frequently this winter,
more expensive backup electric-resistance heating will cycle on automatically."
Cornwell
explains that NOVEC's customers -- the members -- own the not-for-profit cooperative.
"Therefore, we do everything we can to keep costs and rates down for our
members. Nevertheless, no one likes big bills. That's why we provide
energy-saving information and levelized billing."
Helping You Save
Cornwell
says customers can find many energy-saving tips and tools at www.novec.com/save: "We have all kinds of
information on our website about saving energy. Anyone can take an online
energy audit specific to his or her home with NOVEC's Home Energy Suite. We
also have lots of energy-conservation ideas in Cooperative Living magazine and in our bill inserts. As an
alternative, customers concerned about their bills may call NOVEC's Customer
Service Center and ask to speak to someone in Energy Services."
Levelized Billing
A
customer may sign up for levelized billing, which averages the customer's power
use for the last year and allows him or her to pay approximately the same
amount each month.
Cornwell
says, "Levelized billing helps customers budget more effectively. It's
especially helpful in January and February when many people are still paying
for holiday shopping."
To
participate in levelized billing, customers may call the Customer Service
Center at 703-335-0500 or 1-888-335-0500, or visit www.novec.com and click on Billing and Payment
Options.
Load Management Program
NOVEC
started a load management program in 1979 to reduce peak demand on the coldest
and hottest days of the year and thereby reduce power costs for all Co-op
customers. Volunteers participate by allowing NOVEC to attach switches to their
electric water heaters and/or air-conditioner compressors. When power demand
soars, the Co-op can operate the switches remotely to cycle on and off these
appliances.
Larry
Shaffer, NOVEC vice president of System Operations, says, "We always encourage
more customers to participate in our load management program because it's an
effective way to lower our peak demand, which in turn lowers costs. We thank
customers who already have switches. They've saved Co-op customers millions of
dollars in power costs over the last three decades."
