Electricity Rates to Shockingly Spike Next Month – What Can You Do?
(Beverly, Massachusetts) – New England faces a very cold, snowy winter with rising electric rates hitting consumers hard. The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts another arctic blast with above-normal snowfall and below-normal temperatures. On top of that, electric rates are expected to spike drastically this winter. Clearly, we’re in for a long and costly season.
According to recent reports, Massachusetts consumers will face significantly higher electric bills this winter. A persistent natural gas shortage for power plants is driving prices to record levels. National Grid, one of the state’s largest utilities, announced heating rates will rise 37% over last winter. This increase is due to soaring electricity costs from power plants—the highest in decades.
According to home exteriors expert Stephanie Vanderbilt, owner of Coastal Windows & Exteriors, this news doesn’t mean you must suffer a cold winter paying high electricity bills. Instead, here are some tips to help offset rising heating costs:
- Reverse Your Ceiling Fans: After you turn on your heat, put your ceiling fan in reverse to produce an updraft. This will push heated air down into the room. This may allow you to turn your thermostat down a degree or two.
- Caulk Around Windows and Doors: If the gaps between siding and window or doorframes are bigger than the width of a nickel, go to your local hardware store and pick up some silicone caulk and reapply exterior caulk. Make sure you look at the joints too.
- Weather Stripping: Use as needed around doors, making sure you cannot see any daylight from inside your home.
- Use a Digital Thermostat: For as little at $19 you can control your heat and your wallet. Set it to automatically turn the heat down when you’re not home around 65 degrees, but no lower. If you do set it lower, your furnace will have to work twice as hard to make up the difference between 50 and 70 degrees.
- Upgrade Doors and Windows: If you have old inefficient windows it may be time to upgrade. With the increasing electricity spike you are literally throwing your money out those drafty windows. Coastal Windows & Exteriors’ double and triple pane windows not only won Energy Star of the Year, the low-E on the glass literally saves energy, reflects heat, and cuts down the UV rays that damage furniture.
Stephanie Vanderbilt is owner of Coastal Windows & Exteriors, a service-focused exterior home improvement company dedicated to educating homeowners and beautifying homes with the highest quality products and services. All of their products – roofing, siding, windows, and entry doors, are energy efficient, sustainable; lifetime warrantied and installed by licensed and bonded professionals. An featured expert on A&E’s “Flipping Boston” show and a former teacher of the deaf, Stephanie Vanderbilt has a unique empathy and passion for service while also being hard-wired to bring a full intensity to everything she does. This unique perspective and approach creates an educational and supportive atmosphere which customers are not likely to find elsewhere.
About Coastal Windows & Exteriors
Coastal Windows & Exteriors Inc. is a woman- owned exterior home improvement company operated by a husband and wife team that has a commitment to making the process of having new home improvement products enjoyable with a strong focus on customer education. All of their Windows, Roofing, Siding and Entry Doors have a Life Time Warranty backed up by licensed and bonded installation. All of their Energy‐Efficient Green Products meet or exceed Energy Star Requirements. Their absolute commitment to the highest ethical standards means they refuse to engage in high‐pressure sales and always put customer education first. Visit www.MyCoastalWindows.com for details.
