Skip to main content

Valley Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Skip to the main navigation menu.

Skip to the main content area of the page.

Clouds with lightning bolt Reporting an Outage
Computer monitor and mobile phone View & Pay Bill
Hand with payment card Pay Now
House under construction Start New Service
A hand accepting a gift Community Grants
Several bank notes Get $100
Home

Toll-free: 800-432-0680 | Pay-by-phone: 866-999-4591

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.


  • Facebook

  • Vimeo
Menu
Navigation Menu
  • Home
  • Billing Info
    • View & Pay Bill
    • Residential Bill
    • Payment Options
    • SmartHub Overview
      • SmartHub for the Web
      • SmartHub for iOS
      • SmartHub for Android
    • Disconnection Policy
    • Rates
    • FAQs About Rates
    • Fees
    • Definitions
      • Purchased Power Adjustment
  • Member Info
    • The Cooperative Difference
    • Bylaws and Forms
    • Annual Report
    • Capital Credits
    • Directors and Districts
    • Member Meetings
    • Recent Posts
    • Penn Lines
    • Valley News
    • Scam Alerts
  • Programs & Services
    • Valley Rural Energy Services
      • Generator Sales and Installation
      • Generator Transfer Switches
      • Electrical Service Work
      • Water Heater Sales
      • Water Heater Rebates
      • Home Energy Audits
      • CFL Disposal
      • Smart Strip Surge Protectors
      • LED Light Bulbs
    • Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
    • Community Service Grant Program
    • Co-op Connections Program
    • Demand Response
    • Educational Programs
    • For Kids
    • Golf Outing
    • Members Helping Members
    • Scholarships
      • 2020 Recipients
      • 2019 Recipients
      • 2018 Recipients
      • 2017 Recipients
      • 2016 Recipients
      • 2015 Recipients
      • 2014 Recipients
      • 2013 Recipients
      • 2012 Recipients
      • 2011 Recipients
      • 2010 Recipients
    • Youth Tour
  • Safety
    • Indoor Safety
    • Reporting an Outage
    • Storm Center
    • Safety Quiz
    • Safe Electricity
  • Save Energy
    • Electric Shift
    • Energy Calculators
  • About Us
    • Contact Info
    • Offices and Hours
    • Service Territory
    • Job Openings
    • Legal Information
    • About Touchstone Energy Cooperatives
    • Cooperative Principles
    • Off-site Links
    • Site Map
Content Area

Avoid shocking your energy budget with wise use of electric space heaters

Thursday | November 12, 2020
All News

By John H. Bookwalter, Jr.
November 12, 2020

Space heater sitting on floor near wall As cold weather chills your home or buildings, you might be using electric space heaters to supplement your heating. This could result in an unexpected increase in your electric bill. For example, with an electric rate of 9.95 cents ($0.0995) per kWh, using a 1,500-watt space heater for an hour would cost 15 cents. Using that same heater eight hours a day for a month would add about $36 to a monthly bill.

Space Heater Calculator

Space Heater Calculator buttonTo help estimate how much your monthly bill could increase, click the Space Heater Calculator button. After the space heater calculator screen appears, enter the number of hours per day that the heater is used, the wattage of the heater, and the price of electricity. Enter the price in dollars. For example, 10 cents would be $0.10, and 9.95 cents would be $0.0995. The software displays the approximate cost in dollars to operate the heater per hour, per day, per month (30.4167 days), and per year.

Please note that the space heater calculator link (by EnergyUseCalculator.com) will open in a new browser window or tab. Valley Rural Electric Cooperative is not responsible for the content of that page.

Other tips for space heaters of all types

  • Close the doors to rooms or areas that do not need heat from the space heater.
  • When heating only one or two rooms, lower the thermostat setting of your central heating system. There is no point heating areas not being used.
  • If your heater has a thermostat, use the lowest temperature setting that is comfortable for you.
  • Make certain your heater is the right size for the space you are trying to heat.
  • Keep space heaters on a level surface and at least three feet away from flammable items like paper, plastic, fabrics, gasoline, furniture, curtains, and drapes.
  • Do not operate electric space heaters near water.
  • Plug an electric heater directly into an outlet; do not use an extension cord.
  • Keep children and pets away from the heater. Never leave them alone with the heater.
  • Use a space heater that has an automatic shut-off switch that will turn off the heater if it is knocked over.
  • Turn off the space heater when it is not in use, or use one with a timer.
  • Turn off the space heater before you leave the room or go to sleep.

For more space heater safety tips, read the article Space Heaters at SafeElectricity.org.

Image courtesy of SafeElectricity.org with modifications by Valley Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Items of Interest

We Make Safety a Priority. Valley REC. Proud member of Safe Electricity® since 2017.

Valley Rural Energy Services offered by Valley Rural Electric Cooperative

SmartHub Access My Account logo

SHOP LOCALLY, SAVE LOCALLY. The one card that does it all. Connections.coop - Beverage shop employee standing at the shop's counter.

Call 811 - Know what's below. Call before you dig. (PA One Call)

Touchstone Energy Cooperatives' Home Energy Adventure

Proud 5 Star Electric Co-op

 

Back to Top

Main Address

Valley Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.

10700 Fairgrounds Road

PO Box 477

Huntingdon, PA 16652-0477

 

Phone Numbers

Telephone: 814-643-2650

Toll-free: 800-432-0680

Pay-by-phone: 866-999-4591

Fax: 814-643-1678

 

Office Hours

Monday - Thursday

7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

 

Follow us!


  • Facebook

  • Vimeo

The Touchstone Energy® name and logo design, the Co-op Connections® name,
the tagline "The One Card That Does It All®," and the tagline "The Power of Human Connections®"
are federally registered trademarks and may not be used without permission.

NISC and the SmartHub Logo are trademarks of National Information Solutions Cooperative, Inc. (NISC) in the U.S. and other countries.

Safe Electricity® is a registered trademark of the Energy Education Council.

Quick Links

  • Contact Info
  • Reporting an Outage
  • Off-site Links
  • Recent Posts
  • Site Map

©2021 Valley Rural Electric Cooperative. Your Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

  • Home
  • Billing Info
    • View & Pay Bill
    • Residential Bill
    • Payment Options
    • SmartHub Overview
      • SmartHub for the Web
      • SmartHub for iOS
      • SmartHub for Android
    • Disconnection Policy
    • Rates
    • FAQs About Rates
    • Fees
    • Definitions
      • Purchased Power Adjustment
  • Member Info
    • The Cooperative Difference
    • Bylaws and Forms
    • Annual Report
    • Capital Credits
    • Directors and Districts
    • Member Meetings
    • Recent Posts
    • Penn Lines
    • Valley News
    • Scam Alerts
  • Programs & Services
    • Valley Rural Energy Services
      • Generator Sales and Installation
      • Generator Transfer Switches
      • Electrical Service Work
      • Water Heater Sales
      • Water Heater Rebates
      • Home Energy Audits
      • CFL Disposal
      • Smart Strip Surge Protectors
      • LED Light Bulbs
    • Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
    • Community Service Grant Program
    • Co-op Connections Program
    • Demand Response
    • Educational Programs
    • For Kids
    • Golf Outing
    • Members Helping Members
    • Scholarships
      • 2020 Recipients
      • 2019 Recipients
      • 2018 Recipients
      • 2017 Recipients
      • 2016 Recipients
      • 2015 Recipients
      • 2014 Recipients
      • 2013 Recipients
      • 2012 Recipients
      • 2011 Recipients
      • 2010 Recipients
    • Youth Tour
  • Safety
    • Indoor Safety
    • Reporting an Outage
    • Storm Center
    • Safety Quiz
    • Safe Electricity
  • Save Energy
    • Electric Shift
    • Energy Calculators
  • About Us
    • Contact Info
    • Offices and Hours
    • Service Territory
    • Job Openings
    • Legal Information
    • About Touchstone Energy Cooperatives
    • Cooperative Principles
    • Off-site Links
    • Site Map