WARM OPTIONS: Alex Rhead uses a column-style oil filled heater to stay warm.
HOUSEHOLDERS in Orange who crank up the heating to cope with freezing conditions need to monitor their power use to fit their budget a spokesman for Essential Energy says.
Essential Energy recorded 6pm on Saturday night as the peak period over the three-day long weekend with energy demand peaking at 50.7 megawatts - up from 47.6 megawatts at the same time the previous weekend.
However Essential Energy regional general manager Phillip Green said householders have to balance staying warm with keeping an eye on their power consumption.
He said ideally heaters should be set at between 18 and 22 degrees with any higher setting impacting on power bills.
He said a good tip for householders is to use heating that warms the skin and not the surrounding air in a room.
“Customers can consider using infrared heating options as they warm the skin [the same as bathroom heater/fan combinations] as this is more efficient,” he said.
He said customers need to turn away from the concept of trying to heat large areas as it can be impractical and expensive.
He said although some householders like to be warm everywhere they move in their house it isn’t always cost effective and heating should be focused on the most used areas.
Essential Energy has a prepared an itemised list of charges for heaters and various household appliances which the public can access to help them keep a check on their electricity usage.
As a guide a large clothes dryer regularly used by householders during Orange’s winter costs $1.05 an hour and uses an average of 4000 watts.
At the bottom range of heating costs per hour are oil filled column heaters while space heaters [wall mounted split system models] are the most expensive to run using up 7000 watts at a cost of $1.84 per hour.
Mr Green said he encourages householders to do their homework and go online to check the cost of using heating and household appliances.
This morning a minimum of 2 degree was recorded in Orange with today’s maximum expected to be 12 degrees.
Tomorrow morning temperatures will plummet to zero degrees with a predicted top of 13 degrees which should be the norm until Friday.
Below zero temperature will cease for the time being with a minimum of 2 degrees predicted for Thursday, 4 degrees for Friday and similar morning temperatures for Saturday and Sunday.
Showers are predicted for Saturday and Sunday.
