Georgia Public Service Commission FOR ENERGY SAVING TIPS AND NATURAL GAS MARKETER INFORMATION VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.psc.state.ga.us FOR MORE INFORMATION... www.doe.gov CONSUMER ALERT Natural Gas Outlook In Georgia Georgia Public Service Commission 244 Washington Street, S.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Phone: 404-656-4501 1-800-282-5813 (outside metro Atlanta) Fax: 404-656-2341 Email: gapsc@psc.state.ga.us. WINTER 2005 2006 Conservation and Weatherization Georgia Public Service Commission HOME HEATING COSTS across the United States are expected to be higher this winter than they were last year. Wholesale natural gas prices are not controlled by the state of Georgia or Georgia's utilities. They go up and down with the national market. Higher prices and a colder winter mean that you might have to pay more to heat your home. The natural gas prices that consumers in Georgia pay are driven by the cost of natural gas in the national natural gas wholesale market. Similar to gasoline prices, natural gas wholesale prices are volatile and can exceed $1.00 per therm. This means Georgia consumers are facing retail prices that are higher and more unstable than they have been in the past. Many consumers have the opportunity to lock into fixed price contracts. Fixed price options can protect consumers from price volatility, but they cannot protect consumers from the fact that prices are simply higher now than they have been in the past. Also, it is important that consumers consider whether they prefer stability or flexibility. With a fixed price contract the consumer locks in a price for a set period of time and may have to pay a fee if he or she chooses to exit the contract prior to its expiration. This means that the consumer is protected if variable prices increase. It also means that if variable prices decrease the consumer on a fixed plan could pay more. In addition, sometimes the fixed price is higher than the variable price. Researching is important and consumers should consider carefully both options. This brochure describes steps you can take to potentially reduce higher heating costs. ENERGY SAVING TIPS THERMOSTAT Consider installing a programmable thermostat. Set your thermostat to 68 F during the day and between 60 65 at night. Set your thermostat to 60 if you are going to be away from home for days at a time. Seniors or people with heath problems might choose different ranges. FURNACE Have your furnace professionally inspected once a year. HOT WATER HEATER Set your water heater to 120 degrees, and switch to "vacation" when you are away. Repair leaks in showers and faucets to save money on water heating. KITCHEN APPLIANCES Position your refrigerator and freezer away from your cooking range, when possible. Set your dishwasher on the low temperature setting. Replacing appliances? Choose those with high-energy efficiency ratings. WASHER/DRYER Wash clothes with warm or cold water. Rinse with cold water. Clean the lint from your dryer after each use. Periodically inspect your dryer vent to ensure it is not blocked. INSULATION Insulate pipes, walls, attic, crawl spaces, base- ment, and floors. WEATHERIZATION Use caulking and weather stripping around the doors and windows to seal cracks and leaks. Add a door sweep. Check your ducts for air leaks. If you use duct tape to repair and seal your ducts, look for tape with the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) logo to avoid tape that degrades, cracks, and loses its bond with age. FIREPLACE When the fireplace is not in use, keep the flue damper tightly closed. A chimney is designed specifically for smoke to escape, so until you close it, warm air escapes-24 hours a day! ENERGY AUDIT TIPS Check the level of insulation in your exterior and basement walls, ceiling, attic, floors, and crawl spaces. Contact your local contractor for advice on how to check your insulation levels. FORMULATING YOUR PLAN Check with your utility to find out if it offers free energy audits or energy audits for a nominal charge.