Black Hills Energy prepares for arctic cold
Jan 16, 2025
(PUEBLO, Colo.) — Black Hills Energy is preparing the community for arctic temperatures that are expected starting Friday, Jan. 17 and lasting through the weekend by providing tips to help with energy conservation.
“We’ve built our system for peak conditions like what we’ll experience this week. We are continuously monitoring our infrastructure and are in regular communication to keep our system running smoothly,” said Black Hills Energy, General Manager Floyd Wolf. “Colder weather brings higher energy usage, which is why we are also encouraging conservation to help save energy and money.”
Black Hills said when temperatures are colder, people use more energy to keep homes and businesses warmer, even if the thermostat is set to the same temperature.
Black Hills Energy suggests:
Lower your temperature setting a few degrees to save energy and close curtains to keep warm air inside.
Turn down your hot water heater to 120 degrees and ensure the water heater is insulated properly. Water heaters are the second largest energy user in a house, accounting for about 18% of an energy bill.
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 warm air.
If you plan on cooking multiple dishes, bake as many as you can at the same time. Take advantage of the energy that goes into heating up the oven fewer times to use less energy.
Skip the drying cycle on your dishwasher. Instead, prop the door open once dishes are washed and allow them to air dry.
Unplug office equipment like printers, shredders, scanners, and other household appliances, like your coffee maker, to prevent them from pulling energy when not in use.
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.
If you are struggling with your energy bill, Black Hills Energy has resources for support including payment arrangements, extending payment terms to help customers get back on track, Budget Billing which offers a free payment plan that averages the amount owed each month, and energy assistance programs.