It’s no secret that we’ve experienced some frigid temperatures lately. When the temperatures drop, unfortunately electric use can go up.

Electric space heaters are often used to supplement the normal heating systems in houses. These heaters might be marketed as efficient — and some are. But they are still electric heaters and will cause a rise in kWh use.

For those of you who don’t use electric space heaters and heat your home with natural gas or propane furnaces, your electric bill will likely be higher as well. The cold temperatures can have a definite impact on the amount of time that the forced air furnace will operate. Even though the heat is generated by the burning of the gas, the heat is distributed through the house by the blower fan. This blower fan is run by electricity and will run more often, working harder to keep your house warm.

When you get your electric bill in February, remember this is for your electric use when temperatures fell below average for an extended amount of time in January.

Kankakee Valley REMC offers services to help you save energy and money throughout the year. Our free energy assessments will help find leaky spots in your home where energy is being wasted and provides you with a better understanding of how you are using energy in your home. Call the KV REMC office at 800-552-2622 to schedule your appointment.