CHEYENNE, WY — Nov.  15, 2023 — Temperatures outside are rapidly dropping, time to be mindful of the energy we use and how it impacts our lives. 

On a quarterly basis, Black Hills Energy’s natural gas utility (Black Hills Wyoming Gas) updates its Gas Cost Rate to reflect the cost of gas purchased from natural gas suppliers on behalf of customers. Going into the 2023/2024 heating season, the winter Gas Cost Rate for Wyoming customers taking service under the GCA option will be $0.3776, which is approximately 48% lower compared to last winter’s $0.7291 per therm Gas Cost Rate. Natural gas prices are a pass-through cost without any markup from Black Hills Energy.

“Historic production and above-average storage have provided a stable market to power this winter’s heating,” said Dustin McKen, Black Hills Energy’s general manager of Wyoming operations. “As we do throughout the year, we’re encouraging customers to use less energy through energy conservation and energy efficiency projects,” said McKen.

Tips range from easy and inexpensive – like lowering the thermostat by a couple of degrees and closing curtains to keep warm air inside – to more involved projects like insulating the attic or installing weather-stripping around doors and windows to keep out drafts.

Additional energy efficiency tips include: 

• When you are home and awake, set the thermostat as low as is comfortable on cold days. A smart or programmable thermostat can make it easy to set back your temperature. 
• Run complete loads of laundry and dishes to avoid using more hot water and energy than necessary. 
• Skip the drying cycle on your dishwasher. Instead, prop the door open once dishes are washed and allow them to air dry.
• Use weather stripping and caulking around doors and windows to seal any holes or gaps, reducing energy waste.
• Turn down your hot water heater to 120 degrees and ensure the water heater is insulated properly. Water heaters are the second largest energy user in a house, accounting for about 18% of an energy bill.

For more videos, conservation tips and safety reminders, customers can visit: Team Ready where they’ll see more of the company’s Team Ready consumer education campaign, which features a duo – Mike and Maria – sharing helpful energy efficiency tips. The goal of this stepped-up activity is to help customers be ready to manage their energy use before colder winter temperatures arrive.