LINCOLN, Neb. – December 20, 2022 – This week, Nebraska forecasts are calling for chilly temperatures and the potential for measurable snowfall. With frigid air on the way, Black Hills Energy wants you to be prepared.

“Nebraskans deserve safe and reliable natural gas, so we’ve built our system for peak conditions like what we’ll experience this week. We are continuously monitoring our infrastructure so it performs as intended, and we are in regular communication with our partners,” said Black Hills Energy Operations Director Quintin Gaddis. “Colder weather brings higher usage, so we are also encouraging conservation to help save money.”

Here are some tips to keep you and your family warm and safe:

• Make sure your furnace vent, gas fireplace vent and tankless/conventional water heater vents are free from any obstructions or debris.
• Never use gas ranges, ovens or gas grills to heat your home.
• Install and maintain carbon monoxide detectors, including replacing the batteries, and inspect them regularly.
• Natural Gas smells like rotten eggs for a reason. If your nose picks up this scent, immediately leave the area and then call 911 once you’re away from the site.
• Wait for Black Hills Energy or emergency personnel to arrive before re-entering the building. Emergency personnel will let you know when it’s safe to return.
• Never use a mobile phone, touch a light switch or start an engine while near a suspected gas leak.

Many people do not realize the price of natural gas is a large component of a customer’s bill. Black Hills Energy is also offering the following information to help customers understand their natural gas usage and conserve energy to help offset the key factors of their bill:

• Black Hills Energy went through a year-long process to help customers better understand energy costs and monitor their usage.
• New customer bills provide a chart that shows approximately 60% of a customer’s winter costs come from the price of natural gas, which Black Hills Energy doesn’t profit from.
• You can easily compare this month’s usage to the same time last year.
• Helpful tips share why your bill might have changed, such as increased usage or colder than normal temperatures.
   

We suggest the following energy-saving tips:

• Adjust your humidity. A well-humidified house at 68 degrees Fahrenheit is as comfortable as a dry house at 75 degrees.
• Make sure your fireplace damper closes tightly when you're not using it. Closing the damper could save 8% of your home's heat.
• Use kitchen, bath and other ventilating fans only as needed. In just one hour, these fans can blow away a house full of warmed air.
• Insulate and weatherize. You could save as much as 30% of your energy costs by better insulating your attic or top floor. You can save about 8% of your energy costs by insulating the floor over any unheated areas, such as crawl spaces, basements and garages.

For more energy-saving tips, visit blackhillsenergy.com/efficiency-and-savings.

Consider seasonal maintenance for furnaces:

Just like scheduling an annual physical or taking your car in for tune-ups, routine furnace maintenance helps keep your furnace working safely and efficiently. Through our Service Guard program, we can connect you with expert appliance repair technicians to make sure your furnace is ready for the chilliest months of the year. Winter is a great time to evaluate electrical connections and gas valves, clean flame sensors, and inspect the carbon monoxide level in the furnace flue. Service Guard furnace inspection can help lower energy bills and avoid costly repairs down the road. To schedule an inspection, call 888-890-5554. 

Additional customer resources:

We offer programs to help customers effectively manage their energy bills. For example, customers can level out monthly payments and spread winter bills over the entire year through our budget billing program. Customers can also seek out energy assistance options such as Black Hills Cares.

To learn more about what the company is doing to assist customers, please visit blackhillsenergy.com/assistance or call 888-890-5554 to discuss options that may be available for you.