News Release > Entergy Texas - Lower temps don’t have to mean higher bills

Entergy Texas - Lower temps don’t have to mean higher bills

12/15/2022

Decrease your electricity usage by implementing energy efficiency practices

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Winter has officially arrived, with colder temperatures impacting the region, but that doesn’t mean your usage and electric bill must increase.

Heating costs can account for more than 50% of a customer’s monthly energy usage because it takes more energy to heat a home in extreme temperatures. Instead of cranking up the thermostat, take advantage of no-cost or low-cost steps to help save energy and money on your utility bill.

Prepare for winter weather

Keep heating costs low this season by taking these steps to improve energy efficiency: 

• Seal air leaks. Use caulk or weatherstripping around doors, windows and any location where there may be a path between the inside and outside.
• Adjust the thermostat. Set the thermostat to 68 degrees during winter months, and dress in layers to stay warm. Each degree above 68 can increase your energy bill by about 3%.
• Conserve hot water. Set your hot water heater’s thermostat to 120 degrees, or the medium setting. Wrap electric water heaters with water heater blankets, which can be found at home improvement stores.

• Keep doors and windows closed. Constant traffic will let out warm air, forcing your heater to work harder to keep the room at a set temperature.
• Ensure fans are turning the right way. Fans should be run at a low speed clockwise during the winter to prevent the cold air from blowing down on you.
• Replace air filters. Dirty filters make your heating system work harder. Replace them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Leverage the sun. During the day, open your curtains and blinds to let in the warm sunlight. Close them at night to reduce heat loss.

Customers are also encouraged to take advantage of Entergy Solutions programs, including a comprehensive residential energy audit and some on-the-spot upgrades, like LED lights and weatherstripping. This is available to qualifying customers at no additional cost, and more information is available online at www.entergy-texas.com/energy_efficiency/main/.

If you’ve made your home as energy efficient as possible and the bill still seems to be higher than it should be, contact our customer service representatives at 1-800-ENTERGY. Our representatives can investigate customer accounts, verify whether the billings are correct and provide additional information about a particular account.

Bill payment assistance 

Entergy Texas has a number of bill-payment options for those needing help paying their energy bills, including payment extensions, deferred payment arrangements and level billing.

• Power to Care – Through The Power to Care program, local nonprofit agencies can provide emergency bill payment assistance to seniors and disabled individuals in crisis. Find out more at www.entergy-texas.com/bill-help/.
• CEAP – The Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) is a utility assistance program designed to assist low-income households in meeting their immediate energy needs and to encourage consumers to control energy costs for years to come through energy education. For information on how to apply for assistance, visit www.tdhca.state.tx.us/community-affairs/ceap/index.htm. 

Customers who are behind on bill payments should contact Entergy either online at EntergyTexas.com or by phone at 1-800 ENTERGY (1-800-368-3749) to make payment arrangements and prevent disconnection. The Entergy app is also available for Android and iPhone operating systems at Entergy.com/app and can be used for your convenience to pay bills, monitor your usage and more.

There are also a couple of programs that can help better manage payment of your Entergy Texas bill going forward, including:

• Level billing – Entergy Texas averages your bill over a rolling 12-month period so you have a consistent bill each month of the year. Pay about the same every month with no surprises. Enroll at myentergy.com/s/levelbill.
• Pick-A-Date – Choose what day of the month you get billed to line up with your budget and manage your cash flow at myentergy.com/s/pickdate.

About Entergy Texas

Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to more than 486,000 customers in 27 counties. Entergy Texas is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in New Orleans. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through its operating companies across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy is creating a cleaner, more resilient energy future for everyone with our diverse power generation portfolio, including increasingly carbon-free energy sources. With roots in the Gulf South region for more than a century, Entergy is a recognized leader in corporate citizenship, delivering more than $100 million in economic benefits to local communities through philanthropy and advocacy efforts annually over the last several years. Our approximately 12,000 employees are dedicated to powering life today and for future generations. For the latest news from Entergy, visit the Newsroom.