Electric bills climb after bitterly cold January

By Heather Michon
Correspondent

With Punxsutawney Phil predicting another six weeks of winter over the weekend, Fluvanna residents may see another round of low temperatures – and another round of high electric bills.

Residents have been taking to social media with stories of $500-600+ electric bills in the wake of January’s prolonged cold snap.

The highest bills so far come from Dominion Energy, which serves some customers in the northern part of the county. Still, those on the Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) system are also likely to see higher-than-normal bills.

CVEC recently explained in a Facebook post that when temperatures dip below 35, “heat pumps become less efficient as they switch to resistance heat or ‘emergency heat’ and use about three times as much energy!”

Even lowering the thermostat to 68 or below can only do so much to take pressure off the system.

Both Dominion and CVEC offer payment programs and options that qualifying customers can use to help manage energy costs, as winter and summer temperatures seem to reach new extremes every year.

Dominion offers “Budget Billing,” and CVEC offers a “Levelized Budget Billing” plans that spreads costs evenly throughout the year. CVEC also offers some pre-payment options.

Both companies encourage customers to reach out with questions and concerns. 

CVEC’s customer support line is 1-800-367-2832.

Dominion’s main customer support line is 1-866-366-4357.

All Virginia residents can get information and referrals for energy assistance and other programs by dialing 211.