ASHLAND, Ky. October 18, 2021 – While this has been a warm fall, winter and colder temperatures will be here before we know it. In fact, this winter is predicted to be colder across the country compared to last year, which could mean higher heating bills. Now is the time for customers to prepare their home or business for the colder weather. 

There are many simple energy efficiency measures customers can put into place to save money without jeopardizing comfort, including:

• Have your furnace and ductwork inspected annually. Loose or broken ductwork accounts for up to 35 percent of home’s energy loss.
• Change furnace filters every month.
• Caulk, seal, and weather strip openings from your home to the outside.
• Increase attic insulation. Recommended level: R-38 or 10-16 inches blown.
• Unless it is equipped specifically for home heating, use your fireplace sparingly. Warm air escapes through the chimney. Close the damper when the fireplace is not being used.
• Maintain consistent temperatures. A programmable thermostat can help heat pump customers gradually change settings to limit use of the costly emergency heating mode.
• Open drapes and shades on south-facing windows to let in sun and heat during the day. Close them at night to conserve heat.

Other energy savings ideas are available at www.kentuckypower.com/savings/.

Customers also are encouraged to consider signing up for the average monthly payment plan (AMP). AMP is designed to level out bills over a 12-month cycle so that customers do not experience summer and winter spikes, when usage is typically at its highest. The AMP plan calculates your monthly bill based on a rolling twelve-month average. Every month, the oldest of the 11 previous bills is removed from the calculation, and your new current bill is included. The amount can fluctuate slightly each month but will be less than seasonal change from increased usage.

Community action agencies offer assistance through several programs including Kentucky Power’s HEART and THAW winter assistance programs. Customers can find their local community action agency office at www.capky.org.

The Home Energy Assistance in Reduced Temperatures (HEART) program is available for income qualified customers and provides participating residential customers who have electric heat with $115 of assistance each month January to April. Qualifying customers with non-electric heat can receive $58 a month for those same four months. HEART applications will be accepted beginning in November.

Temporary Heating Assistance in Winter (THAW) can assist customers facing a hardship and in need of more limited assistance. Qualified customers can receive up to $175 towards their electric bill. The program is available January through April or until designated funds are depleted on a first come, first served basis. THAW applications will be accepted beginning on January 10, 2022.

Customers who do not qualify for either HEART or THAW, yet are struggling to pay their electric bill, can still get help by calling the company’s 24-hour Customer Operations Center at 1-800-572-1113 to discuss payment options or visit kentuckypower.com/account/bills/pay/assistance

Kentucky Power, with headquarters in Ashland, provides service to about 165,000 customers in 20 eastern Kentucky counties. It is an operating company in the AEP system.