CenterPoint Energy encourages Minnesota customers to take action to save energy during the extreme cold snap

CenterPoint Energy encourages Minnesota customers to take action to save energy during the extreme cold snap

Sunday-February-16-2025

​Minneapolis - Feb. 16, 2025 - The bitter cold across Minnesota that is expected to continue throughout the week may cause customers to use more energy to keep their homes at a comfortable temperature. CenterPoint Energy is encouraging its Minnesota customers to take small and easy actions to save energy including temporarily lowering their thermostat settings, health permitting, to help reduce energy use and save money.

CenterPoint wants to remind customers it has a cold weather action plan in place that aims to provide safe, reliable and resilient energy. The company urges customers to also have a cold weather plan in place to stay safe and warm.

"Our employees work around-the-clock to provide safe, reliable and resilient energy service to our customers in Minnesota and are positioned throughout our service area to respond to potential needs. While our workers will be focused on delivering energy to our customers, we know that customers may want to find out more about ways to manage energy more efficiently. We encourage our customers to take easy steps to help reduce their energy use and save money even as the temperatures start to drop, while keeping their loved ones safe and warm," said Brad Steber, CenterPoint's Vice President of Minnesota Gas.

Quick and Easy Tips to Save Energy and Money
CenterPoint encourages customers to follow these easy tips that can make a difference on monthly heating bills:

• Turn down the thermostat. Lowering the thermostat by 7-10 degrees at night, or when away for at least eight hours, can potentially save 10% on heating costs. With a programmable thermostat, a heating system can work around a customer's schedule.
  

• Check the furnace filter. Change or clean the filter to maximize the efficiency of the furnace.
  

• Use window coverings and blinds effectively. If it's sunny outside, open window coverings during the day to capture warmth from the sun, and close coverings at night to keep warmth inside. If the sun's not shining, keep window coverings closed to hold warmth inside.
  

• Keep warm air in and cold air out of the home. Use caulk or weather-stripping to seal leaks around doors, windows and other openings such as pipes or ducts. Close fireplace dampers when not in use to prevent heat loss.
  
• Lower the temperature setting on the water heater by 10 degrees. Limit hot water use.
  

CenterPoint also wants to provide a safety reminder to customers on actions to take if they suspect a natural gas leak. If there's a "rotten egg" odor of natural gas present, immediately leave the area on foot, go to a safe location, and call both 911 and CenterPoint at 800-296-9815. Don't use electric switches/outlets, phones (including cell phones), drive or start a car inside or close to the location or do anything that could cause a spark.

Winter Energy Guide
CenterPoint recently launched its Winter Energy Guide, a comprehensive online resource hub that helps customers throughout the winter heating season. The guide features practical and important safety, energy savings and bill management tips to help customers stay safe and warm throughout the winter season. CenterPoint has a cold weather plan in place to respond quickly to potential impacts this winter, and the company encourages customers to use this helpful resource to create their own cold weather plans so that they're prepared for the colder weather ahead. Learn more at CenterPointEnergy.com/ReadyforWinter.

CenterPoint Energy is Minnesota's largest natural gas utility, serving the energy needs of more than 920,000 residential and business customers.