PSNC has been one of the top energy providers in North Carolina for over 75 years. As a matter of fact, the company has a very wide service area; they serve Asheville, Apex, the Gastonia and Kannapolis area, Durham, Raleigh, and Cary, and in these areas, the company has more than half of a million customers.
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Lock in a steady monthly rate with budget billing.
Anyone that has paid a utility bill understands that one of the most annoying factors of paying for energy is that it can vary in price from month to month. This is especially troublesome when you take into account changing weather or increased usage due to being home more often.
One of the most convenient programs that PSNC has set up is budget billing. This program is primarily available for customers that have been with PSNC for more than 12 months and have lived at the same location for the same period. This program allows the customer to lock in a monthly rate with PSNC so that the whole payment setup is much more predictable. While you will have to call in for eligibility, should you be found to be eligible, this system can definitely take some of the edge off of paying your bills on a monthly basis.
To get started, PSNC will have to calculate a monthly rate for your budget billing payments. This is usually done by averaging the prior 12 months of bill payments and also utilizes an estimate of what the next 12 months of energy costs will be. Once estimated, PSNC will divide the total amount into 12 equal payments, which means that more expensive energy months will be normalized so that the payments will be the same as months where energy expenditures are typically less.
Once this new amount has been locked in, it is up for recalculation if special circumstances arise such as you ordering a new service or if your energy use changes significantly. This may cause a change in your monthly payment rate, but for the most part, these types of changes are rare. Also, if the amount you paid over the course of the year is more than you spent in energy usage, then PSNC will actually credit this overage to your account so that the following year, you’ll spend less over the 12 month period.
The 24-month bill analyzer is a great way to compare energy use between billing cycles. The metrics provided by the analyzer can help you see the impact that the temperature has on your bill. With this info, you can then use the metrics that you received to adjust your day-to-day usage so that your bill will be much more manageable.
As we age paying bills can be more difficult, especially with a fixed income. This is why it’s important to understand that many folks have children and family that would love to help shoulder some of the burden when it becomes too tough to pay an energy bill. PSNC offers a third-party notification system that will alert a selected family member when your bill isn’t paid.
Get help with your PSNC Bill from these agencies!
When it simply gets too tough, there are several agencies that can help North Carolinians pay their bills. PSNC has a page that has a fairly thorough listing of assistance agencies in the various counties that can help out. First, you’ll have to be income-eligible in order to qualify, but once it’s deemed that you qualify, these programs can really provide some real help. Most of these programs fall under the North Carolina Health and Human Services (DSS) Low Income Energy Assistance Program.
This program will grant you a one-time vendor payment for your heating bill. Typically, only households that contain a person that is disabled or is over the age of 60 are eligible for this one-time payment. Also, your household must meet a certain income level and have reserves at or below $2,250.
You can also get help from fellow PSNC customers. The Salvation Army has set up the Heat Care Fund, which allows people to contribute cash donations that can help their neighbors pay their heating bills. This fund works regardless of the heating system that is used and is directly distributed by local Salvation Army Agencies.
In addition to the Heat Care Fund, PSNC also has partnered with other programs like the NC Weatherization Assistance Program and LIHEAP, which provide assistance for households that are under financial crisis. NC Weatherization is designed to actually help low-income North Carolinians save through the installation of energy conversion materials and LIHEAP, which stands for the low income home energy assistance program, is designed to directly assist families that qualify with their energy costs.
PSNC also offers reduced rates and rebates.
PSNC wants you to save cash on your energy bill because running a leaner home can really help conserve. Here are two programs that can help you save some dough:
Rebates for Natural Gas Water Heaters and Furnaces – PSNC has several models of water heaters and furnaces that will help you qualify for a rebate. You’ll have to first apply for a Conservation Program Bill Credit, but doing so may grant you a $150 rebate. In fact, with some models of water heater, you can even save up to $100 through another rebate, which will bring the cost down even more.
Natural Gas Reduced Rates – To qualify for these reduced rates, your household most meet the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR qualification for homes. If this is something that you qualify for, you can pay $.05 per therm less than others that do not qualify for this program. This rebate can definitely save you a lot and falls under PSNC’s Energy Conservation Program.
Take Advantage of the In-home Energy Audit Program
This is a program that is designed for houses built before 1993. If your home was built before this date, then PSNC will send a specialist to your home to help assess how much energy your home consumes. Next, the specialist will then try to help you find new ways to make your home more energy efficient so that you can save money on heating and power. PSNC does this for a small $25 fee, which you can easily recoup in savings.
