CenterPoint Energy provides important safety reminders and valuable tips for customers to save energy while keeping warm

Over the coming days, significantly colder temperatures are expected throughout Minnesota with many areas of the state forecasting subzero temperatures. CenterPoint Energy wants to remind customers it has a cold weather action plan in place and is prepared for potential impacts from the colder weather ahead and encourages customers to have a cold weather plan in place as well. The company’s preparations include crews available across the communities it serves and being able to leverage fuel stored ahead of the winter heating season, if needed, to meet the anticipated increased customer demand for natural gas. CenterPoint is also prepared to respond as safely and as quickly as possible to potential service issues.

Colder weather conditions may require customers to use more energy to keep their homes at a comfortable temperature, so CenterPoint is highlighting energy-saving and safety resources to help lower heating bills, while keeping customers safe and warm this winter.

Winter Energy Guide

CenterPoint recently launched its Winter Energy Guide, a comprehensive online resource hub that helps customers throughout the winter heating season. The guide features practical and important safety, energy savings and bill management tips to help customers stay safe and warm throughout the winter season. CenterPoint has a cold weather plan in place to respond quickly to potential impacts this winter, and the company encourages customers to use this helpful resource to create their own cold weather plans so that they’re prepared for the colder weather ahead.

Energy-saving Tips

• Make sure your heating system is operating safely and efficiently. An annual inspection and tune-up by a qualified technician are recommended. Change or clean your furnace filter regularly to help maximize your furnace’s efficiency and life.
• Turn down your thermostat. By lowering your thermostat by 7-10 degrees at night or when away for at least eight hours, you can potentially save 10% on heating costs. With a programmable thermostat, your heating system can work around your schedule.

• Keep warm air in and cold air out of your home. Use caulk or weather-stripping to seal leaks around doors, windows and other openings such as pipes or ducts. You can also roll up towels and push them against the bottom of the door’s interior to help prevent heat loss. Close fireplace dampers when not in use, so you don’t lose heat.

• Use window coverings and blinds effectively. If it’s sunny outside, open your window coverings during the day to capture warmth from the sun, and close your coverings at night to keep warmth inside.
• Circulate warm air with your ceiling fans. Set your ceiling fans to turn clockwise slowly to move warm air from the ceiling to your living levels.

Safety Tips

• Use space heaters safely. Make sure your space heater has an automatic shut-off, and keep children, pets and all items at least three feet away from it. A space heater that uses natural gas, propane or wood should be vented to the outside. Stoves and ovens should never be used for space heating.
• Test your carbon monoxide (CO) and smoke alarms to make sure they work properly. Change batteries regularly. Alarms don’t last forever, so replace them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Know the signs of CO poisoning. Early symptoms such as headache and fatigue are similar to the flu, but without a fever. Continued CO exposure can lead to more severe headaches, dizziness, nausea, difficulty thinking clearly and fainting. If everyone in a household is experiencing these symptoms, it could be CO poisoning. If you suspect you could have CO poisoning, leave the area immediately, get fresh air and call 911.
• Immediately report a suspected natural gas leak. If you smell the “rotten egg” odor of natural gas, immediately leave on foot, go to a safe location and call both 911 and CenterPoint Energy at 800-296-9815. Don’t use electric switches and outlets, phones (including cell phones), drive or start a car inside or close to the location or do anything that could cause a spark.

Payment Assistance Resources Are Available for Customers

CenterPoint offers programs, tools and tips to help customers manage their bills and save energy. The company encourages those facing hardship to call CenterPoint to find out about payment arrangements and be referred to resources that may be available. To learn more, customers should call 800-245-2377 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday-Friday, or visit CenterPointEnergy.com/PaymentAssistance.

To learn more about the Winter Energy Guide and to receive more important safety, energy efficiency and payment assistance tips, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/ReadyforWinter.

CenterPoint is Minnesota’s largest natural gas utility, serving the energy needs of more than 920,000 residential and business customers.