Five ways to stay on Santa's nice list with holiday energy usage

Ameren Missouri offers tips to save on energy bills this season

The holidays are upon us, and many families are beginning to deck their halls. As more customers begin illuminating their light displays, Ameren Missouri recommends following some simple tips to keep the festive spirit while saving both energy and money.

“During the holidays, there is always an uptick in energy demand, which often translates to higher energy bills,” said Shelly Harmon, manager, energy efficiency, Ameren Missouri. “Opting for energy-efficient decorations and using free tools to monitor your energy usage can help lower your energy bills without sacrificing your holiday spirit.”

Here are some ways to manage your energy bills this holiday season:

1.    Opt for LEDs in lighting displays. Make sure holiday décor is as energy efficient as possible by using ENERGY STAR® certified lights, which use 75% less energy per strand than incandescent lights. LED holiday lights are available for indoor and outdoor use.

2.    Set lighting display timers. Illuminating your holiday display at peak hours when people are most likely to see and enjoy them will significantly reduce energy consumption compared to leaving displays on all night and day. Programmable timers allow for easy setting of peak holiday display times without having to manually turn lights on and off each night.

3.    Mix in energy-free decorations. Items like wreaths, ribbons, and garlands can add beauty to any holiday display without requiring any energy at all. In addition, things like shiny ornaments or tinsel can help magnify the effects of holiday lighting without adding to the energy bill.

4.    Track energy usage online. Ameren Missouri’s new, interactive Energy Manager dashboard makes it easier than ever to see the trends in energy usage and make adjustments to lower overall energy costs. Customers receive personalized recommendations for lowering energy bills and can enroll in usage alerts to help track costs throughout the month. 

5.    Adjust payment due date. Customers can adjust an Ameren Missouri payment due date to a time that is most convenient by simply logging in at AmerenMissouri.com, go to the Billing Options page and select the 'Pick A Due Date' option on the right side. Registering an account online is fast and easy.

This is also an important time to make sure best safety practices are followed when setting up holiday displays. Ameren Missouri reminds all customers to inspect light strands for damage prior to plugging them in, avoid overloading electrical circuits or outlets, and keep decorations away from heat sources such as fireplaces and space heaters. Nearly half of decoration fires occur because decorations are placed too close to a heat source.

“In many cases, energy-efficient products feature bonus safety benefits,” said Harmon. “For example, since LED lights stay cool, they pose less of a fire and burn hazard than heat-generating lights such as incandescent bulbs.”

Ameren Missouri customers looking to manage their energy bills with energy-efficient products for their home throughout the year can find instant savings at AmerenMissouriSavings.com, such as smart thermostats as low as $0.