Home » Home care tips for preparing for winter weather bills

Home care tips for preparing for winter weather bills

Consider budget payment plans, weatherization, energy assistance

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 19, 2015) — Columbia Gas of Kentucky is encouraging customers to take steps now to prepare for winter heating season. Budget payment plans, weatherization programs and various forms of energy assistance are available to help customers of varying income levels prepare for the colder months ahead.

columbia“Even though natural gas prices are at a 20-year low, customer usage increases during the winter months and there are things we can all do to help lower our energy consumption,” said Carolyn Woodford, manager of customer programs at Columbia Gas of Kentucky.

Winter tips:

Take advantage of the budget payment plan

“The Budget Payment Plan is one of the best ways to lessen the impact of winter heating costs by spreading them across several months,” said Woodford said. “Although the ‘budget year’ begins in May, customers can join the Budget Payment Plan anytime during the year.” To enroll in the program, customers should call Columbia Gas of Kentucky’s Customer Contact Center at 800-432-9345 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Be aware of application dates for energy assistance

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a federal energy assistance program which helps over 250,000 Kentuckians each year, is administered on a local level by Community Action agencies. Applications for the LIHEAP Subsidy Program will be accepted from Nov. 4 through Dec. 11 by Community Action agencies throughout the state. To find out if they are eligible for LIHEAP assistance or other types of energy assistance programs, customers should call their local community action agency or visit www.capky.org.

Request a free home energy checkup

A one-hour home energy checkup can provide residential customers with suggestions on how to weatherize their homes to save energy and money. From added insulation to sealing gaps where warm air is escaping, small projects now can mean savings later. Visit columbiagasky.com/checkup or call 800-300-8709 to request a Home Energy Checkup.

Get rebates on high-efficiency equipment

Rebates of up to $400 are available on a variety of high-efficiency natural gas heating, water heating and fireplace equipment. Details and rebate applications are available at columbiagasky.com/rebate.

Plan for preventative furnace maintenance

Columbia Gas recommends that customers have their furnaces inspected by a qualified professional each year to ensure that it is operating safely and efficiently and replace furnace filters monthly. Low-income residential customers may qualify for a free furnace replacement. Columbia Gas partners with Community Action Council and its weatherization program to provide free furnace replacements for qualifying homeowners. To determine if they are eligible for a free furnace replacement and to register for the weatherization program, customers should call Community Action Council at 800-244-2275.

Need help? Ask

Customers experiencing difficulty paying winter heating bills should notify Columbia Gas as soon as possible, rather than risk possible termination of service. Experienced representatives at the company’s Customer Contact Center can establish payment plans and direct customers to possible forms of energy assistance that may be available to them. The Customer Contact Center is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 800-432-9345.