Your energy bill is based mostly on how much natural gas and electricity you use, and in the winter, you are likely using more because:
- In the winter, you adjust your home temperature to stay comfortable. Heating accounts for roughly half of your energy consumption – sometimes even more if you live in an older home.
- When we experience extreme temperatures, your furnace works harder and runs longer to maintain the temperature you set on your thermostat.
- Colder outdoor temperatures and shorter daylight hours may lead you to spend more time indoors. You could also use more electricity for lighting, indoor activities and additional heating items like space heaters or gas fireplaces.
Your winter energy bill might change a lot from month to month or year to year—even if you don’t do anything different. During periods of extremely cold weather, like those we experienced last winter, your home may consume more energy to maintain your comfortable temperature without you realizing it. This is especially true if you live in an older home with old windows or poor insulation.
Your energy usage could also increase during the holidays when you’re hosting more people, using holiday lights, using kitchen appliances more, and possibly adjusting the thermostat to make more people comfortable while indoors.
Another factor that can impact your bill year-round is your billing cycle. The day your DTE service started affects when you get your bill each month. Your statement may end on a holiday or weekend, so we will adjust the end of your billing period to account for this. Therefore, your billing periods can range from 26 to 35 days. We will notify you in advance when your billing period is going to be longer than normal. You can also see the impact of this by selecting ‘Analyze My Bill’ from your online account.
For tips on how to save money on your winter energy bill, visit dteenergy.com/staywarm.
