Why Does My Electric Bill Go Up when the Temperature Goes Down?

Vibrant reds, deep oranges and bright yellows are filling treetops and yards throughout the Volunteer State and the temperature is cooling down. You may have the urge to turn on the heat after the first chilly evening of fall or the first frost. Here are five tips to avoid messing with the thermostat that will keep you warm while also saving you money and energy this season.

Put on more layers. Bundling up is a great way to keep yourself comfortable without extra heat. You can do this by putting on your favorite light sweater or hoodie that’s been hiding in the closet all summer long, keeping fall themed throw blankets around common areas or even putting on warm socks or house shoes. These layers will help you stay cozy and warm while saving energy and on your electric bill.

Reverse ceiling fans. If you run ceiling fans in your living or bedrooms, reverse the spin of the blades. Switching the fan to run clockwise will push warmer air that rises back down into your space.

Open curtains. Even though the mornings and evenings are cooler, it is likely here in Tennessee that the temperature will get pretty warm during the day and hopefully the sun will shine. Open your curtains to let the warmth of the sunshine into your home. The fabric on furniture and carpets will absorb and retain some of the heat into the evening. Be sure to close the curtains though once the sun goes down, so cool air doesn’t get into the house.

Do household chores after dark. The movement involved with cleaning the shower, vacuuming the bedrooms or even folding clothes will keep you warm. You can also run the dishwasher, washing machine or dryer after dark to add a bit of heat to your home.

Invest in a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats allow you to program it to lower the heat when you go to bed, raise it when you wake up and turn itself down again once everyone heads off to work and school. This allows you to stay warm and conserve energy at the same time.

Our nation’s farmers are out doing what they do best: feeding and clothing the world. It’s harvest season – a time to reap the reward of the hard work that has taken place on farms across the state this summer. Even though we’re coming to the close of the crop season, safety still needs to be your number one priority.

Each year, around 62 farm workers in the U.S. are electrocuted, according to the National Ag Safety Database. So, before you jump in the combine, do a thorough look over your fields and locate any potential risks before harvesting. This includes low power lines or poles that will be in the path of your machinery. If you see any issues, plan your route and alert your cooperative accordingly.

When you are making your plans, make sure your equipment will maintain a minimum of 10 feet in all directions, including above, between the machinery and the power lines. You can even call your co-op to determine the transport and clearance height for farm equipment. It is important to never measure line heights yourself to keep everyone safe.

Most importantly, before you get out in the fields this harvest season, make sure you know what to do in the case of an emergency. If your combine, auger or grain cart meets an overhead power line, stay in the cab and call 911. Dispatchers will notify Southwest Tennessee EMC so that we can quickly de-energize the line. If you have to exit the combine in the case of a fire, be sure to jump clear and as far as possible from the vehicle. From there, shuffle away slowly, avoiding lifting your feet completely off the ground for at least 100 feet. Electrical current can flow through the vehicle and energize the ground up to 100 feet away from the point of contact. Shuffling greatly reduces the current flow through your body from the energized ground.

If you have questions or concerns about operating farm machinery in proximity to power lines or any other aspect of electrical safety, please contact your local STEMC office. We hope you have a safe and successful harvest!

As summer temperatures soar, keeping your home cool without driving up energy costs can be a challenge. One of the simplest and most effective ways to achieve this is by utilizing shade. By strategically shading your home, you can reduce indoor temperatures, minimize the workload on your air conditioner and save energy. Here’s how you can harness the power of shade to stay cool and cut costs this summer.

Plant Trees and Shrubs
Planting trees and shrubs around your home is a long-term investment that pays off in comfort and savings. Deciduous trees, which shed their leaves in winter, are ideal for providing summer shade while allowing sunlight to warm your home in winter. Positioning trees on the south and west sides of your home can significantly reduce heat gain. Additionally, planting shrubs and vines close to your walls can create an insulating layer of air, further reducing heat absorption.

Install Awnings and Overhangs
Awnings and overhangs are effective shading solutions that can be tailored to your home’s architecture. Awnings can block up to 77% of solar heat gain on south-facing windows and 65% on west-facing windows. Choose retractable awnings for flexibility, allowing you to enjoy sunlight in cooler months. Fixed overhangs, designed with the angle of the sun in mind, provide year-round shading benefits.

Use Window Treatments
Inside your home, window treatments like blinds, shades, and curtains can make a significant difference in temperature control. Reflective blinds and shades can reduce heat gain by up to 45%. Close blinds and curtains during the hottest parts of the day to block direct sunlight. Consider installing insulated cellular shades, which trap air and provide additional insulation, keeping your home cooler.

Employ Exterior Shades
Exterior shading devices, such as roller shades, shutters, and solar screens, are highly effective in blocking heat before it enters your home. Solar screens, for instance, can reduce heat gain by up to 70%. These devices are particularly useful for large windows and glass doors that receive direct sunlight. They also offer the added benefit of reducing glare and protecting indoor furnishings from UV damage.

Create Shade with Pergolas and Trellises
Pergolas and trellises can add aesthetic value to your outdoor spaces while providing functional shade. Covered with climbing plants like wisteria or grapevines, these structures create a natural canopy that cools the air around them. Position pergolas and trellises near windows or outdoor living areas to maximize their cooling effects.

Benefits Beyond Cooling
Shading your home not only reduces indoor temperatures but also lowers your air conditioning costs by reducing the need for mechanical cooling. This translates to significant energy savings over the summer months. Moreover, effective shading can enhance your home’s curb appeal and provide pleasant outdoor spaces for relaxation and entertainment.

By incorporating these shading strategies, you can create a cooler, more energy-efficient home environment this summer. Embrace the power of shade to stay comfortable and cut energy costs, making your home a haven from the summer heat.

On the week of January 14, bitter cold brought historic demand for electricity across the Tennessee Valley region. On Wednesday, January 17, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) set a preliminary all-time, record peak of approximately 34,524 megawatts. The previous all-time record was 33,482 in August of 2007.

I am extraordinarily proud that, working together, we collectively met that demand and kept folks across the region safe and warm. Of course, keeping the lights on is our job. But it’s important to acknowledge the effort everyone, from linemen to plant operators to those staying warm at home, played in ensuring people across our seven-state region had power during the extreme cold.

After Winter Storm Elliot in 2022, TVA undertook an extensive review that led us to take more than 250 immediate, corrective actions. In addition, in the last three months, we’ve invested nearly $123 million to harden the system and enhance reliability and resiliency at our coal, gas, and hydro facilities. This included adding insultation and enclosures around exposed equipment to prevent freezing and installing state-of-the-art smart heat trace monitoring systems, to help us be more responsive to potential issues. During January’s extreme weather, those investments helped us keep assets operating.

We worked closely with electric cooperatives and other local power company partners to help get the word out to conserve energy during a four-hour peak period on Wednesday, January 17. Small measures undertaken by everyone across the state – turning the thermostat down a few degrees or waiting to start the dryer until later in the day, played a big role in helping us protect the grid. We are working to quantify that, but it’s important everyone across the region knows they played a role in helping us keep the lights on.

Thank you to everyone for the role you played in meeting this historic demand. Your efforts were essential and appreciated, and I’m very grateful for your partnership.

Jeff Lyash

President and CEO, Tennessee Valley Authority

Extremely cold weather can have a big impact on energy bills. The extended, extremely cold weather we experienced in January was unusual for our region.

January saw near zero low temperatures and several consecutive days of temperatures below freezing. These extended periods of cold weather can lead to increased demand in energy consumption. In fact, our power supplier, TVA, set an all-time record peak energy demand on Wednesday morning, Jan. 17.

So why does energy consumption go up when the temperature goes down? The answer is fairly simple.

Colder outdoor temperatures require your home heating systems to operate longer to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. This is true even if thermostat settings are unchanged. For example, when a home’s thermostat is set at 65 degrees and the outdoor temperature is 45 degrees, the heating system must generate only 20 degrees of heat and may only operate a few minutes of each hour. However, if the outdoor temperature is 15 degrees, the heating system must generate 50 degrees of heat and must operate almost the entire hour to maintain an indoor temperature of 65 degrees. The longer a heating system runs, the more energy it uses. Homes with gas heat will see higher power bills because fans that circulate the heat run on electricity.

Contact Southwest Tennessee EMC as soon as possible if you have difficulty paying your bill. We can see if members are eligible for a payment arrangement or change your payment method to our FlexPay program. You may also consider enrolling in our levelized billing program to avoid seasonal peaks in your energy bills.