News Release
Nov. 1, 2002
PNM Says Monthly Bill a Good Place
for Up-to-Date Information on Natural Gas Prices
Albuquerque: As market prices for natural gas continue
to rise this winter, PNM is reminding customers that one of
the best places to go for up-to-date pricing information is
their monthly PNM gas bill.
At the bottom of the bill’s last page, PNM gives an
estimate of what the customer’s next gas bill will be,
based on expected gas prices as well as the customer’s
personal gas use from the same month the previous year.
“This estimate sometimes gets overlooked, but it’s
an important way for customers to anticipate what their bill
will be and take steps to keep costs under control,”
said Sarita Loehr, PNM vice president of customer service.
PNM also has a toll-free hotline – 1-800-TALK-GAS –
that provides up-to-date gas price information for customers.
Loehr said there are other ways customers can control heating
costs. These include:
- Budget Billing: This allows customers to pay the
same amount on their PNM bill each month, removing month-to-month
fluctuations caused by changing weather, market conditions
and usage.
- Winter Bill Bonus: November PNM bills include two
coupons redeemable at Ace Hardware. The first gives 40 percent
off the cost of a programmable thermostat; the second gives
$5 off of any $15 purchase in the store’s heating/cooling
department.
- Weatherization: Common-sense steps in the home,
some of them no- and low-cost, can reap substantial savings
for customers. Attached is a list of some of the easiest
ways to weatherize a home. Additional tips are available
online at PNM.com.
Like other natural gas utilities, PNM does not make a profit
from the sale of natural gas to retail customers and passes
the wholesale costs through to customers. If wholesale prices
are high, those costs are passed on to customers. Similarly,
lower prices are passed on to customers when wholesale prices
dip.
Heating Season Tips from PNM
| 1. |
For the best savings, add
insulation in walls, ceilings and crawl spaces to keep
in the heat. Use R-30 for ceilings and R-19 for exterior
walls and crawl spaces. |
| 2. |
Install or replace weather-stripping
and caulking around doors and windows to keep your home
“buttoned up” as much as possible. |
| 3. |
Install a programmable thermostat,
which can be programmed to lower the heat when you’re
away from home and when you are sleeping. |
| 4. |
Single-glazed windows should
have storm windows or plastic storm windows to keep in
the heat. |
| 5. |
Replace or repair broken window
glass. |
| 6. |
Set your thermostat as low as comfort permits. Each
degree higher than 68 degrees can add up to three percent
of the amount of energy needed to heat your home. |
| 7. |
Make sure that your thermostat is level. This is important
for it to operate properly. Additionally, make sure
the thermostat is not exposed to direct sunlight or
other direct heat sources. |
| 8. |
When entertaining a large
group in the winter, lower the thermostat a degree or
two before your guests arrive. Otherwise your home may
become wastefully overheated due to the heat that's naturally
generated by all of your guests.
|
| 9. |
Humidifiers can help make
your home more comfortable with less energy. |
| 10. |
Keep the overhead door of
an attached garage closed to block winds. |
| 11. |
Fireplaces should have tightly fitting dampers. Open
the damper only when a fire is lit. Don’t use the
fireplace and a forced-air furnace simultaneously. |
| 12. |
Steam from bathing and cooking
humidify your home and make it easier to heat. You’ll
keep more heat inside the house if you don’t turn
on the bathroom or kitchen vents. |
| 13. |
Close heating and return air
vents or radiator valves in unused rooms. |
| 14. |
Make sure that vents for supply,
or return air, are not blocked by drapes or furniture. |
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