As your local cooperative, we work hard every day to bring you affordable and reliable power. One of the ways that we do this is by providing you with tips and free programs to help you save energy and money all year long.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, here’s a refresher on how to save on energy costs on the most delicious day of the year.
Energy-efficient Thanksgiving tips
Create a plan. Dice up your veggies and trim your meats before you turn on the oven. Having all your ingredients prepared and ready to cook will ensure you’re only running your appliances as long as necessary.
Take advantage of small appliances. If you’re cooking a turkey, your oven will be full for the majority of the day. Use small appliances like a slow cooker, toaster oven or air fryer to handle the side dishes, as they are typically more energy efficient than your oven.
No peeking. Once you put something delicious in the oven, it can be tempting to open the door to check on it. However, this lets hot air out and causes your oven to work harder to bring the temperature back up. Instead, check on your food by using the oven light and looking through the glass.
Let leftovers cool. After the meal is over, leave out any leftovers on the counter to cool down before storing them in the refrigerator. If you put food in while it’s still hot, your fridge must use more energy to remain cold.
Make your dishwasher do the work. Did you know that the dishwasher uses less water than washing dishes by hand? Avoid rinsing the dishes with warm water before loading them into the dishwasher to save by reducing hot water usage.
Energy-saving programs
Saving money on Thanksgiving is great, but what about the rest of the year? Piedmont Electric offers a number of energy-saving programs that help you save money year-round.
Time-of-day rates. With a time-of-day rate, you pay a lower rate for any energy used during off-peak hours. In the winter, that means avoiding excess energy use on weekday mornings from 6-10 a.m. The average time-of-day member saved more than $20 per month last year. Try for a whole year risk free! Get additional information here.
Smart thermostat savings program. Lower your monthly bill by allowing Piedmont Electric to make small adjustments to your Nest smart thermostat through in-home WiFi. Of course, you can change your thermostat back at any time if you choose. In addition to bill credits in the summer and reduced energy use, you’ll get a $50 rebate just for signing up for the program! Learn more here.
Load Management. Our air conditioning and water heater load management programs help you save money by cycling off and on your air conditioner or electric water heater during extreme temperatures. You’ll receive credits on your bill for participating and get an additional $25 credit when you sign up for either program. Start saving by signing up here.
Bundle and save from the comfort of your couch!
The best deal this Black Friday is bundling your Piedmont Electric programs and rebates to maximize your savings.
Wonder just how much you can save?
Find out and sign up here!
For more savings tips, check out these 101 easy ways to save energy and money.