Winter is here; keep you and your family safe and warm

Winter is a challenging time for safety and energy usage. Review these winter tips to be prepared and to keep yourself and your family safe and warm.

Energy safety
Staying safe around electricity and natural gas is important year round, but winter requires some special considerations:

• Keep electric and natural gas meters as well as air vents clear of snow and ice. Use a broom or hands (not a shovel, salt or ice-melting chemical). 

• If you smell natural gas, leave the area and call us at 800-261-5325 or call 911.

• If you use a generator, use it safely: Generator safety

More energy safety tips

Power outage preparation
We work to maintain a reliable power delivery system, but severe weather and other events sometimes cause power outages that require many hours and even days to address. Be prepared and know what to do should a power outage occur:
Outage safety tips

Energy assistance
If you have questions about payment options, call our payment assistance line at 800-842-4565. Many customers in Wisconsin qualify for help in paying energy bills. If you qualify, apply now for energy assistance for the winter heating season. Learn more:
Energy assistance

Scammers

Scammers claiming to be from an energy company may call or show up on your doorstep demanding money. Don't let a scammer ruin your winter. Learn about these scammers and what to do:

Scam awareness

Energy-saving tips
Here are some ideas to save money on heating:

• Open shades, blinds and drapes to gain the sun’s heat during the day and close them at night to help retain heat. 
  

• Adjust your thermostat downward when asleep or away. You can save as much as 10 percent a year on heating by turning your thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit from its normal setting (about 68 F in winter) for 8 hours a day. 

• Leave the thermostat’s fan switch on “auto” so the fan only runs when the furnace runs. Setting the fan to “on” causes it to run all the time (and use energy), whether or not heating is needed.

• Turn your thermostat down to 55 F if using a fireplace. Older, wood-burning fireplaces tend to be inefficient and can be costly, drawing more heated air out of your home through the chimney than a fire can produce. So, turn the thermostat down when you cozy up in front of the fire. After the fire is out, close the flue damper to keep warm air in the house.

More energy-saving tips