Why Cold Weather Means Higher Energy Use (and What It Means for You)

When winter temperatures drop, homes and businesses use more energy to stay warm. Heating systems run longer and harder when the difference between outdoor and indoor temperatures grows, driving up both energy demand and usage. This seasonal surge seen across cooperative service territories and utility regions alike can lead to noticeable increases on member bills as furnaces, heat pumps and electric heating elements work nonstop during extended cold stretches. Understanding how weather impacts energy use helps you make smarter choices, improve efficiency, and manage your energy costs while staying comfortable all winter long.

(See video below to learn more about how cold weather affects energy use and practical tips for managing your consumption.)

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ATTENTION MEMBERS

Ouachita Electric will be scheduling an outage to facilitate upgrades to the Summerville substation at 8 a.m. This outage will impact members served by the Summerville substation. The outage is anticipated to last up to 3-4 hours and is scheduled for March 2nd, 2026. The start time of the outage has not yet been determined, but we will inform members as soon as possible. We encourage our members to prepare for the planned outage in advance.