ByHow to save on heating bills effectively
Are you looking to save on heating bills? It’s no wonder, sadly. There are 40% of Americans who are in the same spot as you—they can’t afford to pay for at least one basic need, like food or rent.
We all know by now that heating bills are going through the roof—and we don’t expect them to come to a halt any time soon. Suppliers have been overcharging consumers for as long as we can remember, and wholesale costs aren’t getting any cheaper either.
If you want to find out how to save on heating bills, DoNotPay is here to help. There are plenty of ways in which you can reduce your bills successfully, and we’ll show you how.
How can DoNotPay help me save on heating bills?
DoNotPay boasts numerous features that were introduced with one goal only—to assist you when no one else can or wants to. Our app was made to be so user-friendly that anyone can use it with ease.
To find out how we can help, follow these steps:
- Open the DoNotPay app through your
- Select the ‘Corona Relief’ option
- Tell us what kind of help you would like to receive
- Give us some basic information about yourself
If you want to know what kind of information we require, it’s quite simple:
- Your full name
- Your residential address
- Your email address
- The issue that’s preventing you from paying your heating bill
As soon as you submit these details about yourself, we will quickly research and present you with the most suitable options for your specific needs. Let us do all the hard work in your stead to relieve yourself of any further stress.
How to save on heating bills
Even though bills are pricier than ever, that doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything to reduce that price. There are plenty of different ways in which you can cut the costs of your heating bills. All it takes is a bit of patience and dedication.
We assure you that if you implement at least one of these pieces of advice into your routine, it will make things much easier for you at the end of the month:
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Close your doors and windows! | If you want to save on your heating bills effectively, make sure that you never leave your windows and doors open. During the most hellish summer days, you will let that steaming hot air into your house, which will only result in your using the AC more often. The same goes for winter—prevent the freezing air from entering by closing your doors and windows so that you can stop turning up your heating. |
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Wear seasonally-appropriate clothes. | Don’t expect to achieve a successful heating bill reduction if you continue to walk around your house in shorts and tank-tops in the middle of January. If you wear appropriate clothing, such as sweaters and warm sweatpants, you will stop turning up your heating, which will reduce your bill significantly. |
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Try to insulate your home better. | Good insulation contributes to your house’s temperature greatly. Once you set it up, you will notice how much easier it will be for your home to maintain its temperature. This change could save you up to $400 a year, so take it into consideration. |
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Reduce your thermostat. | What we mean by thermostat reduction is not for you to lower it by 20 degrees. You can set it to 67 instead of 70, for example. We assure you that you won’t even be able to notice a difference, so don’t worry about being uncomfortable. Small changes make a big impact! |
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Take advantage of natural warmth. | If you have any south-facing windows, make sure that you open the curtains and let some sunlight through. This could warm up your house to the point where you won’t need to use heating during the first half of the day, depending on how cold it is outside. |
How can I understand my heating bills better?
We know that bills oftentimes make no sense to your average Joe. There are so many different items that can be listed there that it takes a true genius to comprehend their meanings fully.
It’s disheartening to see how many people struggle to understand bills, then give up and just pay them off. We think that anyone should be able to read their bills and know what they’re paying for.
Because this isn’t the way things are right now, we’ve made a list of different heating-related items that are commonly found in energy bills:
- Billing Summary: This section of your bill is going to show you how much electricity you’ve consumed during the latest billing cycle. It also includes the price you paid for the previous bill. Gas will show up here as well if you get it from the same supplier.
- Wholesale costs: Your supplier has to pay for the energy you consume—and in this section of your bill, you can see the exact wholesale price they are charged for.
- Usage Profile: Some bills come with the ‘Usage Profile’ section as well. Here, you will be able to see how much electricity you’ve consumed over the past month, sometimes even over the past year. The point of this section is to make you more aware of your energy consumption.
- Billing Details: Smaller charges, such as transmission, distribution, and generation charges, will be listed under ‘Billing Details.’ You will also be able to see what your rate per kWh is.
Heating drains a lot more energy than you can imagine. It doesn’t help to know that bills are on the rise as long as we can remember. Suppliers are known for overcharging consumers heavily, and even though we all know it’s wrong, nothing can stop them.
Most people struggle to make ends meet at the end of the month, and there isn’t much they can do about it. If you have a fixed income with no raise in sight, and you’re in a tough spot each month, you should consider asking for financial aid. There are plenty of different options you can choose from.
Am I allowed to negotiate my bill?
Yes, you are allowed to negotiate your bill. If you come from a low-income household, you are likely to receive help. When handling this situation, the only thing you should bear in mind is that anything is negotiable. Don’t be embarrassed to request help—there are plenty of people out there who live under the same circumstances. There is nothing wrong with lacking financial assets to pay off your heating bills.
If you think that bill negotiation is the most suitable option for you, you should know that there are a few ways to go about the matter:
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Financial aid options |
How to go about it |
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Organizations that help pay bills |
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Consumer rights advisor |
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Bill negotiation |
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In case you don’t want to waste any time, DoNotPay will be the best option for you. We make the entire process fuss-free and straight to the point. You can access our app through your to see how we can help you.
We know how stressful it is to be in an emergency. That’s why we’ve made sure that the process of getting you on the other side of this nightmare is as smooth as possible. We are going to handle all the hard work for you if that’s what you need.
Organizations that help pay heating bills
If you’re looking for an organization to help pay your heating bills, you should know that there are plenty of them. We’ve listed some of the best and most popular ones in case you want to proceed with this financial aid option:
- The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Modest Needs
- Citizens Energy Corporation
- The Salvation Army
- The 2-1-1 Program
- Weatherization Assistance Program
Before you apply for any of these, you should do your diligent research on each organization, and make sure you understand what their financial aid entails. Don’t make rushed decisions! Check them all out and find the one that seems like it would be the best match for your personal needs.
Look for errors
If you’re curious to find out whether there are any other ways in which you could reduce your heating bills, we suggest that you start looking for errors. You will be shocked to see how often errors find their way to your heating bill.
Some of the most common errors found in bills are:
- Duplicate items
- Services you’ve never received but still got charged for
- Services you’ve never heard of before
- Services you’ve canceled, but still got charged for
Duplicate items
Duplicate items are the most commonplace error you will find in any bill. They are super easy to spot, so don’t overlook them. If you happen to come across one, call your supplier’s customer care team instantly and let them know about the mistake they made.
Services you’ve never received
Once you start analyzing your bills a bit more carefully, you may spot a service you’ve never received, but still got charged for. If you spot one, get in touch with your supplier without thinking twice about it—demand an explanation.
Services you’ve never heard of
If you find a service that you’ve never even heard of before, inform your supplier. For all you know, it could be an old service that got renamed—but it could also be an additional charge that made its way to your bill by mistake.
Services you’ve canceled
Once you cancel a service, make a note for yourself to check your next bill and see if the service is still there. If it is, reach out to your supplier immediately and tell them that the service was canceled. Don’t let anyone overcharge you.
Can I pay off my heating bills with my credit card?
Yes, you can. If you think it’s the best option for you to pay off your heating bills with your credit card, go for it! The only thing you should be aware of is the severe credit score damage you could cause in case your heating bills are enormous at this point. If that doesn’t apply to you, feel free to use your credit card.
Can I ask for a waiver on late fees for my heating bills?
If you believe that asking for a waiver on late fees for your heating bills is the most suitable option for your specific needs, go for it. You should just know that there are a few ways to go about it:
- Going there in-person
- Consulting a lawyer
- Consulting a consumer rights advisor
- Sending a letter
- Calling your supplier’s customer support team
In case you don’t have much time to waste, you should avoid going there in person and calling your supplier’s customer support team—but if you do want to call despite your lack of time, DoNotPay can help you jump the phone queue.
Let’s face it—if you don’t have enough money to cover your heating bills, you probably won’t be able to afford a lawyer consultation either. It is just as time-consuming as calling and going there in-person.
The best option for asking for a waiver on late fees would be to send a letter. With the help of DoNotPay, you will be able to resolve this issue in no-time. We can generate an efficient letter and send it in your stead if that’s what you’d like us to do. All you need to do is let us know!
To generate an immaculate letter, we need you to give us some basic information about yourself and the reason behind your inability to pay your heating bills. The whole process will take up to 48 hours, though it usually takes a lot less because we understand what emergencies are like. Let us handle all the hard work for you to reach optimal results.
Can I ask for an extension date for my heating bills?
Yes, absolutely. If you want to ask for an extension date for your bills, you should know that there are a few ways to do it:
- Going there in-person
- Calling your supplier’s customer care team
- Sending a letter
If you’re in a hurry to solve this issue as quickly as possible, we wouldn’t suggest going there in person or calling your supplier’s customer support.
The quickest and most fuss-free way of asking for an extension date is by sending a letter. DoNotPay can help you write an efficient one. If you’re worried that the letter might rub your supplier the wrong way—fret not—we’ve been writing letters for a while now, and have become experts at this point.
The letter will turn out sensible, which is the most important aspect. Your supplier needs to understand your circumstances and reasons in order to give you an extension date.
With our help, you can be at ease knowing that your issues are being solved for you.
Am I allowed to apply for a loan to pay off my heating bills?
If applying for a loan seems like the best option for you, you can do that. We wouldn’t advise you to do it before trying any of the abovementioned options, though. Getting yourself further into debt is not the best idea if you can solve the issue some other way.
If you decide to pursue this option, though, make sure that you do your homework and analyze each aspect of a loan application. Don’t apply for the first one you see—research your options and go for the one that seems like it would pay off.
Is there any other way DoNotPay can assist me?
DoNotPay has numerous features that allow us to help you, and our goal is to be there when you need it the most. We update our platform with new and improved features on a regular basis. Be up-to-date with DoNotPay by accessing it through your —you won’t be disappointed.
If you want to know how else DoNotPay can help you, we can:
- Schedule a DMV appointment for you in no time
- Cancel any subscription or membership for you
- Make virtual credit cards that cancel free trials before companies get to charge you
- Help you send demand letters to people and companies in small claims court by guiding you through all the steps
- Help you jump the phone queue when reaching out to customer care teams
- Contest your parking tickets
- Get refunds for delayed or canceled flights