Maine winter is here.
Use our free digital tools to manage your energy use during our colder, darker months.
Sign up for usage alerts
Through your online account, you can sign up for alerts via text, phone or email. These can update you with your weekly usage and its estimated cost. You can also set a usage or target for yourself and receive an alert if you exceed it.
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Energy Manager
It shows your daily energy usage online and gives you a breakdown of your usage by category — like heating, lighting, and cooking — and compares your household’s use to similar households so you can understand how you’re using energy and make informed decisions.
How cold weather affects your usage
Cold weather plays a major role in increasing your usage, which can have a big impact on your bill. Understand how:
During the winter, your heating system has to run longer to maintain the indoor temperature. Understand what’s a comfortable temperature for you and your family and check the thermostat.
When it’s cold, colder water enters your water heater, which requires more energy to heat it. That’s why the shower may take longer to warm up.
Spending more time at home can lead to higher energy use for heating, lighting and appliances. We also love to watch TV on a Sunday with a cozy blanket and some hot cocoa!
Older or less efficient heating systems, as well as poor insulation or drafts around windows and doors, can cause your heating system to work harder.
Efficiency Maine can help you with rebates on high-efficiency heaters.
Tips to reduce usage
Keep track of your usage anytime, anywhere.
Unless you have a heat pump, making small changes to your thermostat can help you save. Keeping the temperature at 65° during the day can reduce heating use by up to 15%.
Consider installing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat. You can lower temperatures when you and your family are not at home.
Properly insulate your hot water tank and the pipes leading from it to minimize heat loss and set the thermostat to 120°F.
Clean your filters or replace them once a month to increase performance.
Install door sweeps to entry doors to eliminate cold air from sneaking in. Check for drafts in windows as well. Check for drafts in windows as well.
Close heat registers in rooms you’re not using, but ensure the temperature stays above freezing to protect your pipes.
If you use electric heat, consider upgrading to a high-efficiency ductless mini-split heat pump system, which can reduce electricity use by up to 40%.
LEDs use up to 90% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 25 times longer. Turning off lights when leaving a room can help too.
Use the air-drying option on your dishwasher instead of heat drying, or simply open the door and let the contents air dry.
Avoid opening your oven to check on your food. Using the window can keep heat from escaping.
We are here to help
Managing a higher bill during the winter can be challenging and we understand that. Programs like the Electricity Lifeline Program, Home Energy Assistance Program and Home Weatherization through Efficiency Maine Trust can help you manage your bills. Visit our Help with Bill page and check the programs available for our Maine customers.