Are you having trouble paying for costly winter electricity bills? Winter heating costs account for 45% of U.S. homes’ energy bills, the U.S. Department of Energy reveals. Heating bills are especially high this winter, given the recent polar vortex, record low temperatures, and snowstorms that will not quit. Consumers can, however, put a significant dent in utility bills with a few, relatively easy tips. Here are some of the best ways to save money on electricity:

Turn the Thermostat Down While You’re Sleeping

One of the simplest ways to save on electric bills is by purchasing a programmable thermostat. “Using a programmable thermostat, you can adjust the times you turn on the heating or air-conditioning according to a pre-set schedule. Programmable thermostats can store and repeat multiple daily settings (six or more temperature settings a day) that you can manually override without affecting the rest of the daily or weekly program,” The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) explains. The DOE adds, “You can easily save energy in the winter by setting the thermostat to 68°F while you’re awake and setting it lower while you’re asleep or away from home. By turning your thermostat back 10° to 15° for 8 hours, you can save 5% to 15% a year on your heating bill — a savings of as much as 1% for each degree if the setback period is eight hours long.”

Switch Electricity Providers

If your electricity bills are especially high, your chosen electric provider may be to blame. In the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusets, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, electric utility suppliers compete for consumers’ business. Changing electricity providers can save you a considerable amount of money. Compare rates online or call for estimates. Don’t forget to ask about payment plans and discounts for clean energy.

Keep electric bills manageable during the cold season. Program thermostats to automatically save energy while you are at work or sleeping, and consider changing electricity providers to get the best competitive rates. More information like this.