Helpful Winter Savings Tips
- Turn Down Your Thermostat – You can save as much as 3% for each degree that you turn your thermostat down during the winter. If you can be comfortable with, and your health permits, a slightly cooler home, lower the thermostat by a couple of degrees and save even more. Don’t forget to turn down your thermostat when you are not home and at night when you go to bed.
- Take Care of Your Furnace – Have your furnace cleaned and checked out every year to keep it running at peak performance. A dirty or clogged filter will use more energy and heat more slowly. Consider having a yearly furnace inspection.
- Let the Heat Circulate – Check furniture, curtains and drapes and area rugs to make sure they are not blocking heat registers and vents. If you have a ceiling fan, use it to push the warm air down from the ceiling.
- Keep the Cold Out – Close blinds or drapes when it gets dark outside to help cut heat loss through windows at night.
- Cook Smart – If cooking with gas, adjust the flame to fit with your pans. Opening the oven door unnecessarily can cause a drop of up to 50 degrees in the oven temperature, so don’t open the oven door unless you have to.
- Turn Down the Tank – You can reduce your energy consumption by turning your hot water tank down to 120 degrees. For every 10 degree reduction in temperature, you can save between 3% and 5% on your water heating cost. Insulating hot water pipes and installing a water heater insulation blanket on your tank will also help reduce your natural gas consumption.
- Think Before You Wash and Dry Clothes – Wash and dry only full loads of laundry and use the cold water setting on your washer. If you have to wash a small load, use the appropriate water-level setting. Consider using a clothes rack or indoor clothesline to dry clothes. If you do use your dryer, be sure to clean the lint screen in the dryer after every load to improve air circulation for more efficient clothes drying and to prevent fire hazards.
Commonly Asked Questions in Winter
- Know of any financial assistance programs that could help with my gas bill? Yes, Tallatoona Cobb and Douglas is a public resource that may be able to help customers with their natural gas bill. Tallatoona can be reached by clicking HERE
- The office is closed and I need my service to be reconnected what do I need to do? Customers must speak with a member of our Customer Service staff to have services reconnected. Please contact Austell Gas during normal business hours. Monday thru Friday 8:00AM-4:45PM to make proper payments and schedule to have services restored.
- Are there any major factors that affect natural gas prices? The major factors that affect the price of natural gas are the demand due to weather conditions and increasing cost due to the availability of the product.
- What can someone expect to pay to heat their home or business this winter? Natural Gas is priced by the therm and the amount that is used. If Natural Gas is the main source of heating for the home or business, there will be an increase in usage and therefore cost during the winter months as compared to summer months.
- What is the price per therm? For comparison and pricing information click HERE
- How is a bill calculated? There are several factors that are included in the bill calculation. The Austell Gas Customer Service Department is available to help with any questions someone may have regarding how a bill is calculated. To see a break down example of calculating a bill please see the example on the next page.
- Is Natural Gas safe? Natural Gas is a safe and efficient source of energy that has the best safety and reliability records of all traditional energy sources.
- If gas bills are not paid by the due date, are there penalty fees? When a new bill is generated a penalty is assessed on the previous balance.
- Can customers change their billing due date? No, each service location is read and billed according to a set and established meter reading cycle.
- When is the best time to call Customer Service? Our busiest times are usually between 11AM-2PM daily and on Monday and Friday. Customers are able to visit Austell Gas to submit service requests and obtain additional information to assist.
- What temperature should someone set their thermostat during winter? The American Gas Association recommends setting thermostats between 65 and 70 degrees during the winter, and at 58 degrees when away from the house for more than a few hours. The American Gas Association only provides average household settings and each household should evaluate their circumstances to be sure the thermostat is set accordingly.
How to calculate a gas bill
- Step 1: Take the total amount of therms used and minus 5 therms*
- Step 2: Multiply the next 50 therms by the current rate/therms*
- Step 3: Multiply the next 125 therms by the current rate/therms*
- Step 4: Multiply all additional therms by the current rate/therms*
- Add together the base rate (first 5 therms), calculated total from 50 therms, calculated total from next 125 therms and total from all additional therms.
*Current therm rates can be found HERE
