months: 742,383 (September: 756,881

Keeping Pets and Energy Bills Comfortable

Tammy Piland, coordinator, Member Services and Billing

I don’t know about you, but I consider my four-legged companions, Chance and Abby, part of the family. I know others feel this way, too. That’s why during the winter months, we make sure our whole family, including our four-legged members, is cozy — without taking a big “bite” out of our budget.

This month, I’d like to share a few simple ways to make your home more comfortable this winter, which can help you save on energy bills.

At the onset of the cold weather season, we replace the HVAC filter for better air quality and to help the unit operate more efficiently. You can also keep your home cozier by caulking and weatherstripping windows and doors. If your home is particularly chilly, you can tape or affix heavy, clear plastic to the inside of your window frames to create an additional barrier against the cold. Ensure that the plastic is tightly sealed to the frame to help reduce infiltration.

We know winter can be “ruff,” so we set our thermostat at 68 degrees, a “purr-fect” temperature for people and pets. This is especially important for smaller, short hair and senior dogs — not just for warmth, but for their general health. Puppies, kittens, and older pets with arthritis or other ailments may have a harder time controlling their body heat and need the additional warmth when it’s chilly out.

Pets that sleep close to the floor can be subject to cold drafts that enter your home through windows and exterior doors. If your pet’s bed is near a window or door that feels drafty, tightly roll up a towel and place it near the bottom of the door or window to eliminate the draft. Cutting down on cold drafts helps everyone feel more comfortable during colder months.

If possible, elevate your pet’s bed so it’s not placed directly on a cold floor. An old chair or sofa cushion works well. If you don’t use a dog bed, take some old blankets and create a donut shape on the cushion so the dog can snuggle and “nest” within the blanket. You can do the same for cats but on a smaller scale. Blankets enable pets to nestle into them, even when they aren’t tired, and provide a comfortable place for dogs and cats to curl up.

During the day, open your blinds and curtains to allow sunlight to warm your home. Close window coverings at night for an added layer of insulation.

At Roanoke, we want to help you save energy and money. Check out our mobile app or visit our website at roanokeelectric.com for additional energy-saving tips.

We can’t control the weather, but we can provide advice to help you save energy and keep your family and furry friends more comfortable during the winter season.

Chance Abby

Need Help Paying Electric Bill This Winter?

Colder months often bring higher energy bills for homeowners. Why? With freezing temps outside, most people spend more time at home, causing your heating system to work harder to keep you comfortable. But there’s hope! Member-owners seeking help paying their bills this winter are encouraged to take advantage of Roanoke Electric Co-op’s collaboration with government agencies to receive much-needed financial resources.

“Historically, our member-owners’ highest bills are seen in the January-March winter months,” explained Basil Williams, the co-op’s manager of Member Services. “Weather is one of the biggest factors when it comes to electric usage, especially during the coldest months of the year. We want to help member-owners lessen the financial burden of potentially high bills.”

Eligible, assistance-seeking member-owners can apply for such funding through the North Carolina Low Income Energy Assistance Program. Commonly referred to as “LIEAP,” this program provides a one-time vendor payment towards residents’ heating bills.

Member-owners must first apply for financial assistance through their local help agency. Once the member-owner has visited their local help agency, the agency will contact our office to request the supporting documentation to complete the application.

Households with a family member aged 60 or older, or an individual receiving disability benefits and services through the North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services, are eligible to sign up for assistance from Dec. 1–Dec. 31, 2022. All other member-owners can apply from Jan. 1–March 31, 2023. Assistance will be available until funds are exhausted.

LIEAP offers the one-time payment to help households pay their heating bill from Dec. 1–March 31. Households must meet the following criteria to be eligible: è Have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen who meets the eligibility criteria è Meet an income test è Have reserves at or below $2,250 è Be responsible for its heating costs è Funds may run out before the enrollment period ends, so member-owners are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

For more information about the application process and additional information on LIEAP, please contact your local help agency.

Where to go for assistance

Choanoke Area for Development Association: è Weatherization è Emergency housing and shelter è Section 8 housing è Energy Assistance è First home buyers program è Single family rehab è Mortgage assistance è Early Head Start è Parenting è Employment

CADA Ahoskie 252-332-2692 CADA Rich Square 252-539-4155 CADA Roanoke Rapids 252-537-1111 CADA Windsor 252-794-3107 Department of Social Services: è Crisis Intervention

Program è Low Income Home

Energy Assistance

Program/DHHS è Assistance with medications è Community

Outreach è Aging and Adult

Services è Emergency

Assistance è Child Care Services è Food and Nutrition Services è Backpack program è Medicaid è Work First è Adult protective services è Child protective services è Food pantry è General assistance: medicines, etc. è Blind service

Gates County DSS 252-357-0075

Bertie County DSS 252-794-5320

Halifax County DSS 252-536-2511

Hertford County DSS 252-358-7830

Northampton County DSS 252-534-5811 Perquimans County DSS 252-426-1806