SMUD News Release For immediate release: Nov. 18, 2003   SMUD offers tips to help customers stay warm and safe this winter>>Click here

Neighbors can help those in cultural transition break unsafe heating practices

The Sacramento area is one of the nation's most ethnically diverse regions. Many SMUD customers are recent immigrants who use heating practices from their homelands, which can include using open fires indoors to stay warm and to save money. SMUD wants to remind all customers of the dangers of heating indoors with open fires.

Because today's homes are fairly airtight, it is unsafe to use an unventilated fire or to burn charcoal indoors for home heating. Burning wood and charcoal releases carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide cannot be seen or smelled, and it can kill in minutes.

In recent years, an elderly Sacramento couple died trying to keep warm by using a hibachi-style barbecue and an entire family in Stockton nearly died from burning charcoal inside their home.

SMUD has some tips to help customers stay safe and warm this winter:

• Never use barbecues or charcoal inside your home, even in the fireplace.
• Never heat your home with a kerosene heater, stove, oven, dryer or any unventilated appliance.
• Never use lighter fluid or gasoline to start a fire in your fireplace.
• Never burn painted or treated wood in your fireplace.
• Cover the fireplace after fully extinguishing the fire.
  
  
  SMUD also has some tips to help customers save money on their electric bill for little or no cost:

• On sunny days, open window shades and use the sun's heat. Close at night and when it's cloudy.
• Wear heavier clothing. Loose layers and hats retain body heat.
• Weather-strip and caulk around doors and windows, sealing holes and cracks
• Using space heaters can be costly. Limit use to rooms that don't get enough heat.
• Use an approved water heater blanket to keep heated water warm.

  The SMUD Energy Assistance Program Rate (EAPR) is another way customers may save money. SMUD offers eligible, low-income customers a discount on their electric bill. The discount rate can save customers $1.50 off the $5 customer charge as well as a 30 percent savings on a portion of their electric bill.

  Now, even more customers can qualify for the EAPR rate as SMUD recently changed the income-qualifying guidelines. Households will be eligible for the discounted rate if their income does not exceed 175 percent of the federal poverty level. The previous eligibility standard was 150 percent of the federal poverty level. The change means a family of four can make up to $32,500 a year and be eligible for EAPR.

  In addition, EAPR customers may qualify for free weatherization of their homes and apartments, including insulation, weather stripping, faucet aerators, compact fluorescent light bulbs and some minor home repairs to improve energy efficiency and keep down electric bills.

  All SMUD customers benefit from their utility being customer-owned. SMUD's rates are among the most competitive in the state and they remain about a third lower than neighboring PG&E's.

  For information about SMUD's discount rate, call 1.866.675.6624. For information about all of SMUD's energy saving programs and for tips on keeping the electric bill lower, please call SMUD at 1.888.742.7683 or visit www.smud.org.
  http://www.smud.org/news/releases/03archive/11_18_safeheating.html
  © 2003 Sacramento Municipal Utility District.

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