“Providing affordable, safe and reliable service for customers continues to be a top priority at Alliant Energy,” said Linda Mattes, vice president of customer operations at Alliant Energy. “Guided by our purpose-driven strategy to serve customers and build stronger communities, we take actions throughout the year to help stabilize the price customers pay for natural gas and minimize the impact on bills. For example, we buy and store some natural gas in the summer when the prices are lower. This contracted storage is then withdrawn and used during the home heating season when prices are typically higher.”
Alliant Energy continues to monitor the global energy supply-and-demand imbalance that is driving the volatility and leading to unprecedented natural gas and energy price fluctuations. When combining the current dynamics with other annual variables such as commodity prices, market shifts and weather events, it makes it extremely difficult to accurately predict a realistic impact for customers. Based on the significant increase in natural gas prices projected by the EIA, Alliant Energy customers should anticipate their monthly natural gas bills will increase.
According to Alliant Energy, customer heating bills are based on two elements: Cost of the energy itself and the amount of energy customers use. To reduce the amount of energy used, and therefore reduce the impact of higher natural gas prices on heating bills, customers have access to a variety of tools and cost-saving measures. First, they can monitor their use in My Account and set up alerts to get notified when they’ve used a specific amount of energy. This could serve as an opportunity to implement additional energy efficiency measures.
Customers can also reduce their usage which directly ties to their overall bill. Helpful cost-saving tips can be found at alliantenergy.com/winterbills and include:
• Turn your thermostat down at night and when you’re away.
• Open shades during the day to let the sun in. Close shades at night to keep heat in.
• Seal windows and block drafts around doorways with weatherstripping and caulk.
• Get a furnace tune-up: Keep your furnace clean, lubricated and properly adjusted to reduce energy use.
• Change your furnace filter: Your air handler will not have to work as hard to push air through a clean filter, which saves energy.
Additionally, customers are encouraged to learn about available options if they need financial assistance to pay their energy bills. Customers who need support to help pay their bill should call 211 or visit alliantenergy.com/energyassistance for details about available options, including the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Hometown Care Energy Fund.
Alliant Energy Corporation (NASDAQ: LNT) provides regulated energy service to 975,000 electric and 420,000 natural gas customers across Iowa and Wisconsin. Alliant Energy's mission is to deliver the energy solutions and exceptional service customers and communities count on – safely, efficiently and responsibly. Interstate Power and Light Company and Wisconsin Power and Light Company are Alliant Energy's two public energy companies. Alliant Energy is a component of the Nasdaq CRD Sustainability Index, Bloomberg’s 2020 Gender-Equality Index, and the S&P 500.
Alliant Energy Corporation (NASDAQ: LNT) provides regulated energy service to 1 million electric and 425,000 natural gas customers across Iowa and Wisconsin. Alliant Energy's mission is to deliver energy solutions and exceptional service customers and communities count on – safely, efficiently and responsibly. Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL) and Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL) are Alliant Energy's two public energy companies. Alliant Energy is a component of Bloomberg’s Gender-Equality Index and the S&P 500. For more information, visit alliantenergy.com and follow Alliant Energy on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X.