That means heating needs increase and more time is spent inside using lighting, appliances and electronics. To lower your winter electric bill, Randolph Electric offers tips to help you reduce usage while staying comfortable during colder weather and shorter days.

Be energy efficient

Simple steps help! Learn how energy efficient you are, as well as how you can improve your home’s energy efficiency and save money by visiting the Manage My Energy section of RandolphEMC.com.

Other quick tips to help:

• Set thermostats to the lowest comfortable level (try 68 degrees for winter)
• Limit space heater use
• Open curtains to let in the sun’s heat, but be sure to close them at night
• Reduce shower times
• Only run full loads in your dishwasher and clothes washer

Budget Billing

Equalize your payments for 11 months. In the 12th month, your account is “evened up” with a final payment billed or credit applied. Combine this with bank draft for convenience.

FlexPay

“Pay as you go” for the ultimate in convenience by paying smaller amounts, on your own schedule — even daily or weekly, by automated phone system or online. There are no deposits or late fees. Simply keep a positive balance on your account to keep electricity flowing. Set a payment to post automatically when your account reaches a certain low-balance threshold.