December has come and is almost gone. With that comes colder weather. PPL Electric Utilities is offering low-cost and no-cost ways to help keep homes warmer, bills lower and energy savings higher this winter.

Increased energy use during prolonged cold temperatures can lead to higher bills as heating a home uses more energy than any other system in the house. By following a few simple tips and making energy efficiency improvements, customers could save more on their winter heating bills. Also, PPL Electric reminds customers to visit savewithPPL.com for even more tips, tools and programs like the following.

• Capture the sun’s light and heat: During the day, leave your curtains and blinds open to illuminate your rooms naturally and gain warmth from the sun. At night, close your curtains and blinds to prevent that heat from escaping.

• Set your thermostat to smart mode. When the conditions fluctuate outside, it’s easy to forget to change your thermostat inside or to know which temperature to set it to. That’s why PPL recommends making the switch to a smart thermostat that can automatically adjust based on users’ behavior, preferences and the current temperature. PPL even offers up to $100 in rebates on ENERGY STAR® certified smart thermostats to get the savings started.

• Close the gap: Inspect all doors, windows and ductwork for gaps that could leak heat from the home. Caulking and installing weatherstripping in these gaps around windows and doors can help customers close in on savings. Just a few minutes of work could save up to 10% annually.

• Fans can be just as important for keeping everyone warm as they can be for keeping them cool. Flip the switch to change the direction of the blades, so they spin clockwise in the winter. This will help push warm air — and energy bills — downward.

• Prevent fireplace heat loss: When customers are not using their fireplaces, keep the damper closed, so warm air doesn’t escape through the chimney. Energy-efficient fireplace grates also help with savings by pulling cool air out of your room and into the fireplace, while bringing warm air back in the room.

• Schedule a free energy assessment over the phone. A no-cost virtual energy assessment from PPL is a great place to start on the energy saving journey. Customers will receive a whole-home evaluation, personalized recommendations and a free energy savings kit. Schedule today by visiting pplelectric.com/virtualassessment.

Customers are also encouraged to take advantage of bill relief or assistance programs. We have payment plans and assistance programs for everyone. Explore options at pplelectric.com/billhelp.

PPL Electric Utilities delivers safe, reliable and affordable electricity to about 1.5 million homes and businesses in eastern and central Pennsylvania. It regularly ranks among the country’s best utility companies for reliability and customer satisfaction. PPL Electric is a major employer and an active supporter of the communities it serves. It is a part of the PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) family of companies. Visit pplelectric.com or connect on social media via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for energy efficiency tips, bill help information, guidance on shopping for an electricity supplier, storm updates and more.