Regular furnace maintenance, weather stripping on windows, and closing blinds or curtains during the night to retain heat are all ways to save money during those chilly Saskatchewan winter months.

SaskEnergy’s Manager of Corporate Communications Annie McLeod says using a programmable thermostat is also a good idea, as you can schedule changes to your home’s temperature while you’re sleeping or away.

“Doing that consistently over time can help lower your monthly energy use and heating bills, and over the course of the year, using a programmable thermostat can help save the average household about $160 a year on heating and cooling costs.”

She adds that customers can enroll in SaskEnergy’s equalized payment program, which allows them to spread their annual bills equally across twelve months to avoid peaking during the winter.

Also, she says furnace filters should be replaced every one to two months; improving furnace efficiency by up to 1 per cent. A dirty furnace filter uses 10 per cent more energy to deliver heat throughout your home.