Northwest Iowa — The economy could affect our heating costs, however there are ways people can save on their bill whether prices go up or not.
Geoff Greenwood, media relations manager for MidAmerican Energy Company, says while inflation is up, the effect on heating bills is not what you’d expect.
He says that there are some factors that may make bills a bit higher.
Greenwood says there are two factors that affect customers’ bills.
There are many ways to use less natural gas according to Greenwood. He says one way is to make sure your furnace is working correctly.
Other ways are to make sure that all vents are cleared from clutter or furniture so that air can flow freely and keep the home heated, customers who have gas water heaters can change the temperature from 140 degrees to 120 degrees, and customers can even use their curtains to keep things warmer.
Greenwood says the biggest thing a customer can do is get a programable or smart thermostat. A smart thermostat will do all the work and many of them will even record your activity so it will know when you are home and when you are not.
According to Greenwood, MidAmerican Energy gives a rebate for people who have smart thermostats if they fill out the proper paperwork.
MidAmerican Energy also offers budget billing which is free to apply for. For more information on budget billing or rebates visit https://www.midamericanenergy.com/home.
