John Oxford
MOULTRIE — Colquitt County residents have been feeling the bite from an unusually cold January in an unlikely place: the wallet.
City of Moultrie Utilities Director Roger King said Colquitt County has experienced an unbelievably cold winter already. The county has seen much colder temperatures this year than last year’s winter, and energy consumption has increased accordingly.
Bruce Bailey, Energy Conservation Advisor for Colquitt EMC, said documented temperatures show 151 hours below 32 degrees Fahrenheit between Jan. 1 and Jan. 14 this year. In 2009, there were only two recorded hours where temperatures reached below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
“The unusual duration and severity of the cold weather has been the biggest factor in increasing energy consumption,” Bailey said.
With customers seeing their utility bills greatly increased because of the cold weather, King said Moultrie residents can apply for help. He encourages those who have trouble paying bills to go to the Community Action Council, who will work with customers and the city. Those customers with good credit and meeting other criteria can arrange a payment plan to help with the expense of utility bills.
“We’re concerned for our customers getting unusually high utility bills,” King said.
Bailey said one way to help reduce the costs of utility bills is to minimize heat loss through proper insulation, sealing air leaks and using high efficiency heating sources. EMC will work with its customers to find the best solution and will examine options for higher utility bills, he said.
King said residents may also want to take advantage of Georgia’s ENERGY STAR Appliance Rebate Program, which launches Friday, Feb. 12, and may provide rebates of up to $199 for new high efficiency water heaters, gas furnaces and electric heat pumps, and other appliances. For more information on this program, visit www.georgiarebate.com.
Lowering the thermostat just four degrees can also provide savings of roughly $100 per home over the winter months, King said.
Anyone living on a limited or fixed income may be eligible for efficiency upgrades that may include insulation, air sealing, and other measures to make homes more energy efficient at no cost, through the Georgia Weatherization Assistance Program. For more information on this program, visit www.gefa.org and look for the Weatherization Program under the “Programs and Activities” tab.
