Customers can also follow simple tips to conserve energy use this winter

Beaumont, Texas – Chilly winter weather has finally begun to make its way south and with colder temperatures comes the potential for higher energy use by Entergy Texas, Inc. customers.

To help customers better manage their energy use this winter, Entergy Texas has a variety of services and billing options as well as a few simple tips that can potentially help lower monthly electric bills during the chilly winter months.

“Colder weather can lead to increased energy use during the winter as our customers try to keep warm,” said Vernon Pierce, customer service director, Entergy Texas, Inc. “That’s why we are partnering with our customers to assist them in managing through cold weather just like we do in the summer months.”

My Account Online allows customers to view and pay their bill, view their billing and payment history and update account information – all with a few clicks of a mouse.

Customers can find answers to a variety of energy-related topics, including how electricity is made, what goes into energy costs and what Entergy Texas is doing to ensure affordable energy in the future, at EntergyAnswers.com. The Web site also offers a series of easy to use tips that can help customers lower their monthly energy bills.

Tip 1 – Adjust your thermostat: Air conditioning and heating can account for as much as 55 percent of your monthly electric bill. Setting the thermostat to 68 degrees during the winter is an easy way for to reduce how much energy you use. Every degree above 68 on the thermostat can increase your bill by about three percent. Entergy Texas also recommends setting the thermostat to 55 degrees if you plan to be away from home for several days.

Tip 2 – Conserve hot water: Heating the water you use each day, whether for showers or washing dishes or clothes, can account for 20 percent of your monthly bill. Wrap your electric water heater with a water heater jacket (available at any home improvement store) and set the temperature on the unit to 120 degrees or medium. Washing clothes in cold water when possible and running the dishwasher only when full can also help to save energy.

Tip 3 – Replace air filters every 30 days: The harder your heating unit has to work to warm your house, the more energy it uses. Keeping air filters clean can make your unit more efficient, which means it uses less energy. Fiberglass air filters should be replaced monthly and aluminum mesh filters should be washed monthly.

Tip 4 – Use energy-efficient light bulbs: ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs use 70 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer than regular light bulbs. If you need more light, use one larger bulb rather than several smaller ones. A 100-watt bulb produces 50 percent more light than four 25-watt bulbs for the same amount of energy.

Tip 5 – Seal air leaks around windows and doors: Caulking and weather-stripping are easy ways to stop cold air from outside from entering your home. Put weather-stripping around doors, windows and wall seams. You can also seal places where electrical, plumbing or heating systems enter your house and add insulating gaskets on all electrical outlets and switches.

“Saving money on your energy bill is easier than you think,” Pierce said. By following all or some of these five energy saving tips, you’ll see that conserving energy is not only good for the environment, it’s good for your wallet.

“Electricity is a good value when compared to other household expenses,” Pierce added. “The typical Entergy Texas customer already spends less than $5 per day on electricity and making small adjustments can really add up to even bigger savings.”

Customers can also register for other Entergy Texas services to help manage their accounts. Level Billing can help to lower summer bills by averaging 12 months’ worth of bills so that there are no summer spikes. Pick-A-Date allows customers to choose the date on which their bill is due while Automatic Monthly Payments saves customers the trouble of writing and mailing a check.

Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to 400,000 customers in 27 counties. It is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. Energy is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has approximately 14,700 employees.

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EntergyAnswers.com