Xcel Energy shares cold weather energy savings tips

NEWS RELEASE
XCEL ENERGY
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Cold temperatures are expected today as a snowstorm moves into Colorado’s Front Range. Xcel Energy-Colorado would like to remind customers of energy tips and programs to help them manage their energy use and save on their energy bills. We also encourage customers to reach out directly if they’re having trouble paying their energy bills, so we can help with payment plans or connect them to energy assistance programs.  

To ensure we can meet our customers’ energy needs even on the coldest days, we maintain a diverse energy mix of wind, solar, battery storage, natural gas and coal sources allowing us to provide customers with the safe and reliable energy they depend on. 

Take steps to save 

We recognize that inflation is hitting everyone hard, and customers can help minimize the extreme cold weather event’s impacts on their bills by reducing their energy use: 

• Lower your thermostat a few degrees, ideally to 68 degrees or lower.  
• Adjust your programmable thermostat to automatically lower the temperature while you are away or while you sleep. 
• During daylight hours, open drapes and blinds to maximize heat from direct sunlight. To retain heat, keep them closed when it is dark. 
• Run ceiling fans in a clockwise direction to push warm air down from the ceiling, adding comfort and savings.  
• Keep interior doors open to help circulate air more freely and maintain constant heating levels.  

Find more ways to save on the energy savings tips page on our website. Customers can also learn more about programs, incentives and rebates to insulate their homes and businesses from extreme weather with energy efficiency upgrades.

Customers participating in both our insulation and air sealing programs can expect to reduce their energy bills by up to 15-20%. 

Customers should be safe and comfortable in their homes during the extreme cold. We work with state and local agencies and advocates for income-qualified customers to provide energy assistance to those in need. Energy Outreach Colorado, the Colorado Energy Office and the Colorado Low-income Energy Assistance Program help income-qualified Colorado customers with bill payment assistance, free weatherization and energy-efficiency upgrades, and HVAC repair and replacement. To learn more about energy assistance options, customers can visit xcelenergy.com/EnergyAssistance or call 1-800-895-4999.   

Xcel Energy customers energy bills expected to be lower in March as natural gas prices drop

Customers will see lower energy bills in March than expected due to recent decreases in wholesale natural gas prices. The company submitted another interim fuel price adjustment to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to reflect the continuing drop in the price of natural gas. The change is effective March 1, 2023. This is the third time the company has lowered customer charges as natural gas prices fall, with the first on Dec. 1, 2023, and another on Feb. 1, 2023.  

Average electric residential customers will see a monthly decrease of 2.34% or $2.08 per month, and small business customers will see a decrease of 2.43% or $3.16 per month. Average natural gas residential customers will see a monthly decrease of 11.50% or $11.60, and small businesses will see an average monthly decrease of 13.15% or $57.15. Xcel Energy passes the natural gas commodity cost directly to customers, without markup from the company. 

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