Demand for electricity is generally lower when the weather is cool than it is during the summer. This means that compared with summer prices, fall and winter prices are generally lower, and the price pattern is more stable. During the summer, prices typically rise during the day, peak in the afternoon, and then decrease during the evening. In contrast, the winter price shape is generally flatter, with multiple small peaks during the day. This is because overall demand is not driven by air conditioning as it is during the summer.

As the graph illustrates, several changes occur with the shift to the cool weather pattern:

• The highest prices of the day are generally lower than the highest prices during the summer.
• Winter prices tend to increase in the morning during the hours when people are getting ready for the day and businesses are opening.
• Prices will typically drop during the afternoon.
• The highest prices of the day tend to occur during the evening rather than earlier in the afternoon.

It is worth noting that market prices tend to increase somewhat in December and January, usually due to the holidays and the associated decorative lighting and retail business activity. Electricity prices can also spike when sudden and significant temperature drops or extended cold snaps push up natural gas prices, increasing the cost of operating gas-burning power plants. As always, you will receive a message in advance any time prices are expected to be above 13 cents per kWh. You can also view prices online.
Here are a few tips that can help you save energy dollars throughout the cooler seasons.

Use Your Thermostat

Be sure to check your thermostat settings when it’s time to switch over from air conditioning to heating. Set your thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature, and lower the temperature five to 10 degrees before going to bed and when leaving home for more than four hours. You can use a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust your home’s temperature settings to match your daily routine.

Take Care with Space Heaters

Portable electric space heaters are generally less efficient than whole-house heating systems. Use portable space heaters to warm small rooms and spaces. Wide use throughout your home will result in high utility bills. Also, space heaters can pose a fire hazard, so use caution and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Change Furnace Filters

If you have a forced-air heating system, replace or clean your furnace filters once a month. This is an easy and affordable way to clean the air in your home while reducing your energy costs. When filters are clogged with dirt, the furnace must work harder to emit warm air. A new clean filter will have your furnace buzzing with efficiency.

Stop Sneaky Cold Air

A common pathway for cold air to get in from the outside is through electrical wall outlets. Electrical outlet sealers found in your hardware store provide a quick fix. Installation of these couldn’t be easier. First, make sure power is turned off. Then unscrew your electrical outlet cover, pop out the holes in the perforated foam insulators, and place the insulator around the fixture. Finally, screw your outlet cover back on, and turn your electricity back on.

Light for Less

As the days get shorter in the fall and winter, lighting accounts for a bigger portion of household electricity use. Cut your lighting cost by replacing incandescent bulbs with more efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). CFLs use 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.

Celebrate with Savings

Many households look forward to stringing up festive lights for the holiday season. You can celebrate and save by investing in efficient stings of LED lights, which offer a safer and more energy efficient way to brighten up the season. LED holiday lights use around 75 percent less power than the old incandescent lights, and they stay cool to the touch, so they pose less of a fire hazard.