Video: Watch Out for Energy Vampires

We've posted on this blog before about the danger of energy vampires when it comes to your power bills each and every month. There are a number of ways to save electricity and lower your payments, but one of the easiest and least intrusive ways to do so is to watch out for these vampires.

What is an energy vampire, you ask? While your appliances may have on/off switches, many of them continue to draw power from their outlets while they are off. You would be surprised by just how many appliances in your home join in on the vampire fun. Just think of the prongs of the plug as their little monster fangs, taking your energy away.

To provide a bit of advice about this very subject, Alabama Power Company has provided a new video, the latest in its series of consumer education shorts.

What are your strategies for saving energy around the home? Do you watch out for energy vampires?

Turn it Off - Saving Energy When You Leave Work

Over the last couple of years, I've tried to become more energy conscious, both at home and at the office. One of the things that I've made a habit of doing is to turn off my computer and my monitor when I leave work, and hibernate my computer constantly at home.

If you've ever wondered how much energy a little process like this saves, amateur filmmaker Nigel Upchurch has created a video to demonstrate. Turn if Off takes a look at the habits of workers in different countries, and the kind of energy consumption these habits entail. It's actually astounding to consider the effects that all of these computers and their monitors have on the environment.

To see more about how these statistics were put together, or just to see more of his work, visit the video page for Turn it Off. What about you guys? Do you turn your monitor and computer off at home/work when it's not in use?

City Highlight: Moving to Cleveland

Every month, we try to highlight a city to show savings-savvy consumers how they can save money. Whether people are moving to a new place or just looking for deals for where they live, we hope these prove to be useful for shoppers that are trying to cut down on their monthly expenses.

This month, we take a look at the great city of Cleveland, Ohio. There are lots of great specials to be had with a Cleveland zip code at the moment, especially if you are trying to lock in a natural gas rate just before the temperatures start plummeting.

Here are some of Cleveland's best deals!

Natural Gas

• If you want to get a low natural gas rate before it gets too cold, check out Vectren Source natural gas service. You can find a low variable rate plan that starts at only 5.828 cents per therm.

Bundles

• AT&T is letting you save money with phone and high-speed Internet bundles that start at $29.20 per month. This deal can help save you up to $180 on your bills!

High-Speed Internet

• Order lightning fast Internet from the folks at Cavalier! You can get up to 8.0 Mbps download speeds for the low price of $39.95 per month!

TV

• DIRECTV is offering their Choice XTRA plan for as low as $34.99, which will also net you 3 free months of Showtime and Starz.
• DISH Network is running a special for the America Top 120 package, which has over 120 channels for only $24.99.

Phone

• Sage Telecom has great deals on home phone, starting at just $19.99. This well priced package will give you unlimited local calling as well as 200 free long distance minutes.

Some of these prices and specials may vary by area, and may change at a future date. To find out what you can save, visit WhiteFence and enter your address to get started!

Provider Highlight: Gas South

As we're in the midst of natural gas light-up season we decided to feature another natural gas company in this week's provider highlight. This time it's Gas South, one of Georgia's fastest growing natural gas companies.

Gas South currently serves over a quarter of a million customers throughout Georgia and offers clear pricing, great rates and outstanding service. Their mission is to not only provide natural gas, but a personal touch, comfort and peace as well.

Here are some things to look out for when shopping for Gas South service on WhiteFence:

• Enjoy $45 in Bill Credits – Currently, Gas South is offering $5 off for your first nine bills on all of their plans through WhiteFence. That adds up to $45 of savings!

• Lock in a Fixed Rate – Gas South currently offers three different fixed rate plans. You can lock in your rate for 6 months, 12 months or 18 months, depending on how long you want to commit for.

• Get a Great Low Variable Rate – If you're looking for a month-to-month plan, Gas South currently has a competitive variable rate plan available with service starting at just $0.490 per therm!

Ready to start shopping for Gas South service? Head over to our Gas South page and enter your address to see what plans are available in your area.

Have You Ever Switched Energy Providers to Save Money?

Fall is here, and it's time to think about ways to save money on energy again. During the hot summer months, consumers in deregulated electricity markets are mostly focused on the savings they can find by looking for better rates through different providers, lowering their monthly payments and keeping some extra change in the pocket.

However, now that fall has arrived (and in full swing here in Houston, where the weather is quite lovely), it's time for folks in deregulated natural gas markets to start thinking about natural gas. After all, you don't want to suddenly wake up one morning to find that it's much too cold in your house and rates have already shot through the roof.

The surprising thing about all of this is that not that many people take an active interest in ways they can save money on their monthly bills. Sure, they would like to pay less, but they don't always do the legwork to go out and find the savings that are there to be had. My wife and I have done this a couple of times with our electricity provider, and we couldn't be happier. Honestly, it was so easy I was shocked that more people don't do it more often.

So I thought I'd create a poll and see just how many folks out there have switched energy providers to save money. Feel free to vote or leave a comment down below! If you're interested in saving on energy, visit the WhiteFence electricity and natural gas pages and get started!

WhiteFence's October Deals

Here in Houston, the change to the fall season doesn't always mean immediately cooler weather. Last year, the mid 90s heat stayed the same all throughout the month of October, giving us no real reprieve from the sun's hateful beams. However, this year, it actually feels legimitately like fall, seeing as how we are experiencing some of the best weather we've had in all of 2010. It's a nice reminder that summer is officially over.

While our focus on the blog might have been the summer of savings, the chances for you to find great deals are still all over WhiteFence. Here are some of the best deals for October:

• Get three FREE months of Starz and Showtime with select DIRECTV plans.

• Receive a $50 gift card with select Green Mountain Energy plans.

• Reward yourself with $40 in bill credits with select Georgia Natural Gas plans.

• Get $240 back plus $5 off per month for 24 months with select Verizon bundles.

• Get AT&T high-speed Internet for as low as $14.95 per month.

• Save $45 per month or get a $200 reward card with certain AT&T U-verse bundles.

As always, these promotions are subject to change and are true as of the date posted. Really, the best way to ensure you catch one of these deals while they last is to enter your address and see just what's available where you live. Don't miss these fall savings!

Natural Gas Light-Up Season is Here

Fall is finally here and temperatures are starting to drop across the country. While it's not quite cold outside yet, it will be soon enough. These lower temperatures indicate we're entering natural gas light-up season, that time of year where people start preparing their homes for natural gas for the winter.

Light-up season is actually the perfect time for consumers in a deregulated natural gas market, such as Ohio and Georgia, to switch providers and save on their natural gas bill before rates start rising.

WhiteFence is the nation's leading site to compare, connect and save on natural gas. When you shop for natural gas service with us, you can:

• Discover what companies and plans are available at your address
• Easily compare the plans based on price, contract type (fixed vs. variable), cancellation fees and more
• Find great promotions such as bill credits and gift cards
• Know you found the best deal with our Best Price Guarantee
• Lock in your new rate by ordering directly on the site

Looking for more info about your natural gas bill? Check out these articles:

• How to Choose a Natural Gas Plan
• Fall Energy Savings Tips

Provider Highlight: Georgia Natural Gas

Surpsingly for us here in Texas, we've been hit with a pleasant cool front to relieve us of the normal day to day heat we tend to experience from April through late October. It's a nice little preview for the fall, and reminds us that the cold weather will eventually come, even though it always doesn't feel like it.

Unfortunately for other places where it gets even colder, there's not quite the same amount of warning. Before you know it, things can cool down rather drastically, and suddenly you're in the middle of light up season, looking for better natural gas rates. Since there are so many great options available with WhiteFence for switching natural gas, we thought we'd highlight one of our Georgia gas providers to give you the inside scoop.

Here are some things you may not have known about Georgia Natural Gas:

• Pre-Pay Plan. Georgia Natural Gas currently has an option for those who are establishing or reestablishing credit. The Pre-Pay Plan allows for shoppers to pay their expected gas usage in advance, with no deposits or contracts required!

• Bill Credits. In addition to the Pre-Pay Plan, Georgia Natural Gas is also rewarding natural gas switchers and savers with bill credits, depending on the type of plan you choose. Fixed rate plans reward consumers with $10 in bill credits for 4 months, while the Variable Intro plan rewards with $5 off for 8 months. The end result is still the same: saving $40 on natural gas service!

To start shopping and saving with Georgia Natural Gas, simply visit Georgia Natural Gas on WhiteFence and enter in your address to see what's available for you.

There's Still Time to Save on Electricity This Summer

Do you still have a high electricity rate? Don't worry, you still have plenty of time to save this summer. By switching to a lower rate with a different electricity provider, you'll save big not just on the rest of your summer cooling bills, but you'll be able to keep on saving throughout the year.

When you shop with WhiteFence, you're sure to find the best deals on electricity service out there. Here's how it works:

• Discover your options – Enter your address at our electricity savings center and we'll start searching our database. In just seconds, you'll be able to browse plans from all of the top providers in your area.

• Compare offers – You'll be able to compare the different plans head-to-head based on price per kWh, plan type (fixed vs. variable), renewable energy content and  cancellation fee amount. You'll also be able to see any promotions the providers are running.

• Connect your new service – Once you've made your decision, you can lock in your rate and order your new service without ever leaving the site.

• Start saving – Your new provider will instantly receive your order and your new service will start promptly. Once your new rate goes into effect, you'll start to see the savings rack up!

Looking for more information about electricity? Check out these resources:

• Get more info on the different types of electricity plans

• How to read your electricity bill

• Learn how to pick an electricity plan

Get Smart, Go Green For a Chance to Win a Smart Car

Anybody that commutes to work knows the pain of long drives and high gas prices. Making the trek each day is not only taxing on your wallet, it also does a number on the environment.

If you're looking to go green with the kind of vehicle you drive, you could do just that by joining the Get Smart, Go Green sweepstakes with Green Mountain Energy Company, the Texas electricity provider dedicated to clean and renewable energy. They are teaming up with smart center Sugar Land and smart center Houston North to bring you a 2010 smart fortwo passion coupe, which is being hailed as the most fuel efficient gasoline-powered car on the road today.

Here are some more details about this great car:

• One of the most economical cars on the road today
• Fuel efficient with 33 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway
• Meets or exceeds all federal government crash test standards
• Extremely safe with advanced crash avoidance and crash protection systems

In order to enter to win this sweepstakes, you must head on over to the Get Smart, Go Green page on Green Mountain Energy Company's Web site, and fill out the form required to put in your entry. Before you know it, you could be the proud owner of a brand new environmentally friendly car!

View the Sweepstakes Official Rules at www.greenmountain.com/smartcar. No purchase is necessary. One entry per household permitted from all methods combined. All entrants must be a minimum of 18 years of age. All entrants must be a resident of the State of Teas. Certain restrictions apply.