Blistering winds and avid snowfall surprised University of Oregon students not only with a white wonderland, but trailed behind with surprises in their monthly electric bills as well.
UO junior Marie Kempf’s electric bill increased by $30 for the month of December in her campus apartment, located on 19th Avenue and Harris Street.
“It didn’t put a burden on us financially, but it surprised us to see the bill increase so much,” Kempf said.
Joe Harwood, spokesman from Eugene Water and Electric Board said people’s bills are usually up to 30 percent higher in December. But, this year, specifically between dates of the Dec. 5 and 12, Eugene faced several days well below freezing, and below zero degree temperatures. @@google check@@
“(Eugene) saw some very unseasonable low temperatures and reached record-level freezing temperatures,” Harwood said. He used the example of Dec. 8, where Eugene reached a -10 degree temperature, the second lowest to ever be recorded in the city.
This demand for heat during the winter season translates into consumption among individuals, and Harwood noted that it was common this season to see an increase in electric bills between 30-40 percent of the regular monthly cost.
For students, according to Harwood, it was possible to have been able to sneak by maintaining a lower bill due to the fact that several students go home over the break. However, the freezing temperature Eugene encountered began in the midst of finals week.
Kempf said living in an apartment helped her and her roommates stay warmer over the month of December. Kempf had other apartments above, below and around her also using their heat and that helped generate a higher temperature in their apartment as well.
Gretchen Soderlund, assistant professor of media history, found herself dealing with several troubles due to the snowfall early December as well. @@find people@@
“We were just cold. It didn’t matter if our heaters were up,” she said. Soderlund also noted that in her new home in Eugene, as she came over recently from Virginia, the avid snowfall helped her and her husband realize that they did not have an adequate heating system for the winters in Oregon.
There are several ways to decrease costs to monthly electric bills. Harwood said, “In terms of trying to reduce your bill there are some steps you can take. Don’t increase your thermostat over 68 degrees. Every degree that you go down from 68 can actually reduce energy by 3 percent.” Also, turning your thermostat off when you aren’t home or before you go to bed will also help decrease costs due to lower usage of energy.
There are several other tips on the EWEB website for students to check out. The tab is located under “Energy tips.” @@EWEB website@@
For students who are having trouble paying their increased bills, EWEB has assistance for times like these. EWEB is able to set up payment plans and are more than willing to work with students in the community, according to Harwood.