January 11, 2024 - In anticipation of cold weather moving in early next week, we are preparing for winter temperatures and want customers to be ready as well. According to the latest forecast, temperatures are expected to fall into the single digits. See the weather forecast here: weather.gov/forecast

Heating costs can account for a large part of a customer’s monthly energy usage. Here are some things to do to help curb usage:

CLOSE OPENINGS:  Make sure your garage door and crawl space doors/vents are closed and that all your hoses are removed from outdoor faucets, any water left in your pipes can freeze and burst and could cause water damage inside your home!

SEAL AIR LEAKS: Use caulk or weather-stripping 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 percent.

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: Going in and out will let out warm air, forcing your heater to work harder to keep the room at a set temperature.

CEILING FANS ARE TURNING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION: Fans should be run at a low speed clockwise during the winter to keep the cold air from blowing directly on you.

REPLACE AIR FILTERS: Dirty filters make your heating system work harder.

USE THE SUN: During the day, open your curtains or blinds to warm with sunlight. Close them at night to reduce heat loss

Our BMU crews are ready to respond if any issues arise. We will monitor our regional transmission organization, Southwester Power Pool (SPP), as they oversee the electric grid for our 14-state region which includes our Sikeston area. Watch for updates on our page if any issues arise. Or visit spp.org/grid-conditions for current grid conditions and advisories.

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