CITYWIDE — The cold weather has had many Santa Monicans reaching for the thermostat.
Natural gas usage, used to heat roughly 89 percent of homes in Southern California, has increased 22 percent compared to January 2006, according to Peter Hidalgo, spokesman for The Gas Company.
Even electricity providers have seen the effects of uncharacteristically cold weather. Southern California Edison has experienced a slight increase in electricity usage system wide this month, said spokesman Tom Boyd.
In recent weeks, The Gas Company has been flooded with calls related to broken heaters or pilot lights that have gone out. Heater-related calls have increased 25 percent in January from the same time last year.
Natural gas prices this winter are actually 40 percent less than they were this time last year, offsetting some of the increase in gas bills that residents will soon receive. The Gas Company was able to purchase natural gas at a lower cost this year and pass the savings on to the consumer, Hidalgo said on Wednesday.
The gas bills this month won’t be as high as they could’ve been under 2006 prices, but there are steps that homeowners should take to cut costs through a little conservation.
Dropping the current thermostat setting about 3 to 5 degrees could save a homeowner about 20 percent off their next gas bill. Of course, this might mean bundling up with more sweaters and blankets, Boyd said.
Sometimes you have to spend a little to get a little back. Approximately 40 percent of heat loss is caused by poor wall and attic insulation. Since heat rises, it literally goes through the roof, Hidalgo joked.
“Many homes and apartments are not adequately insulated to keep the heat in,” Hidalgo said.“If you can upgrade the insulation, you can reduce your heating cost.”
Heat can also escape through openings in the home. When homeowners are not using their fireplace, they should cover the opening with an approved glass fireplace enclosure, said David Lupberger, a home improvement expert with ServiceMagic.com, a site connecting consumers with more than 45,000 home service professionals.
Windows and doors should also be surveyed to be sure there isn’t a draft of cold air entering through a crack. If there is a draft, a roll of weather stripping can easily solve the problem, Lupberger said.
Make good use of a programmable thermostat — set a lower temperature during naptime.
“While staying cozy seems important now, there may be a price to pay when the heating bill shows up in the mailbox,” Lupberger said.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 18, 2007. Read the original PDF.