In South Texas, it’s not uncommon to break a sweat as the sun beat’s down on a warm winter day or to wear short sleeves on Christmas. We’re lucky if we even get a freeze and snow days become legendary stories. So San Patricio Electric Cooperative is never surprised by member questions about winter electric bills. We don’t even have winter, after all, so how can your bill be so high?

There are actually a number of factors that impact your electric bill in the winter. Read on to discover why, and what you can do to save money during colder months.

Your heat runs longer, and more frequently

Although not every day is chilly, your heater is likely working overtime to keep your home comfortable in the winter months. That’s because there’s usually a big difference in the temperature outside and the setting on your thermostat. (Especially when the sun goes down.)

Think about it this way: On a winter morning, it may be a brisk 35 degrees outside one morning. To keep your home comfortable, you set the thermostat at 72 degrees. That’s a difference of 37 degrees between the temperature outside and the temperature your home is trying to reach. Such a big difference will likely cause the heat to come on longer, and more frequently, to keep your home warm.

There’s not usually such a high difference in the summer months. On a typical 100-degree summer afternoon, you may set your thermostat at 75 degrees to keep cool. That’s a difference of just 25 degrees. Although your AC is working hard to make up that difference in temperature, the disparity isn’t usually as high as it can be in the winter.

You may spend more time indoors

On cold days, your likely spending more time inside. Which means there are probably lights on in at least one room, especially after dark. You may spend more time in the kitchen, cooking hearty meals or baking holiday treats. The TV might be on more often. The kids may all be home. Or perhaps you’re entertaining company. And of course, the heat is on so you all stay comfortable. All of these little things can cause you to use more electricity in the winter.

Our billing cycle runs behind

As the weather warms up, you’ll use the heat less frequently. But that doesn’t mean your bill will immediately come down.

You pay for power after you’ve used it, not before. Because of that, we take your actual kWh usage reading and bill you for it about a month and a half later. So, the bill you receive in February is actually for electricity used from mid-December to mid-January.

By the time you get your bill, it’s easy to forget the cold fronts that blew through the month before, the holiday guests that used your power, or the Christmas light displays you turned on for several weeks.

Don’t worry—the warmer weather will bring a lower electric bill. Just expect to see it next month. Of course, you can monitor your electric usage any time by using SmartHub. (HINT: You can also use it to see how your electricity use changes with the temperature.)

5 ways to save on winter heating

• Use a blanket or add extra layers. To optimize your thermostat for energy savings, experts recommend setting your thermostat to 68 degrees in the winter. If that’s simply not warm enough for you, consider curling up with a blanket or grabbing an extra sweater before you touch the thermostat dial.

• Turn the heat up one degree at a time. If you need to turn the heat up to stay comfortable, move the thermostat dial up just one degree at a time. Doing this ensures the thermostat is set as low as is comfortable so you don’t accidently overheat your home (and add to your electric bill unnecessarily).  

• Turn the heat down during holiday parties. If you have people over, turn the thermostat down a couple of degrees. The heat from the extra people in your home should help keep everyone comfortable—and you can save on energy costs.

• Use your ceiling fan. Switch the direction of your ceiling fan so the blades are rotating clockwise. Set at the lowest setting, this should help push warm air down so you stay comfy.

• Open curtains and blinds. In the winter months, keep curtains and blinds open to allow the sun’s heat to enter your home. It can help warm the space so your heater runs less frequently.