Lighting the way
to a brighter future
The Fort Valley Utility Commission is proud to provide electric, gas, water, wastewater, and fiber optic, to its customer service area in Central Georgia.
________________________
Upcoming Office Closure
Nov 22nd Noon-2PM
It’s easy to get started.
Once you apply for service, Fort Valley Utility Commission makes it easy to pay your bill online, in person or over the phone (dial 478-825-7703.) If you are tired of high bills in the summer and winter, you may want to consider signing up for the 12-month average payment plan. Call Customer Service at 478-825-7701, option 3 if you would like more information on this plan.
Toilet Leaks
A toilet leak could be the culprit of higher than normal water usage. If you suspect you have a leak in your toilet, stop by our office at 500 Anthoine Street and pick up a packet of leak detecting dye tablets. All you do is drop a tablet in the toilet tank, stir slightly to dissolve the tablet, and wait a few minutes. If color appears in the toilet bowl, you have a leak. Please note, there is no charge for the dye tablets.
Conservation Tips: Ways to Keep Bills Affordable!
Winterize To Keep Your Costs Down
As the temperatures start to drop, we recommend you winterize your home. Below are some suggestions to help with energy conservation and winterization.
- Caulk or weather strip around doors and windows. A rolled up towel is an inexpensive way to stop drafts.
- Set your thermostat at 68 degrees or less. Dress in warm clothes (such as sweaters and sweat shirts). If possible, lower the temperature when you go to bed or are away from the house.
- On sunny days, open the curtains to allow the heat from the sun to penetrate. When the sun goes down, close the curtains.
- Replace window screens with storm windows to provide an extra layer of protection and warmth for the home.
- Ensure the filter in your heating / cooling system is replaced on a regular basis. A dirty filter impedes air flow and reduces efficiency.
- Check registers and radiators to ensure they are not clogged with dust.
- Reverse the direction of the ceiling fan to push warm air downward and force the air to circulate. (Note: As you look up at the fan, the blades should be turning clockwise. The opposite is true for the summer time.)
- Wrap any exposed water pipes to keep them from freezing and possible damage to the pipes.
Keep Cool During The Summer
Summer time means higher temperatures; this generally means we run our air conditioners more.
However, there are some things you can do to keep your electric bills affordable and stay cool during the hot, summer season. Consider using the following conservation measures:
- Keep your thermostat set at 78 degrees. If you’re going to be away from home, set it higher.
- Do your cooking and laundry during the early morning or late evening when temperatures are generally not as hot.
- Use ceiling or floor fans to circulate the conditioned air. Using fans makes the air feel cooler to the body which allows you to set your thermostat to a higher temperature.
- Clean dust from supply and return air grills.
- Change filters monthly. However, if you have pleated filters, change these at least every three months.
- Keep curtains closed on the sunny side of your home.
- Install programmable thermostats to help manage your kilowatt usage.
G.E.F.A (Georgia Environmental Finance Agency) Energy Tips
- Home
- Turn off home office and entertainment equipment when not in use.
- Insulate doors and windows with weather-stripping or caulking to prevent heating or cooling loss.
- Laundry
- Dry consecutive loads to more efficiently utilize the already warm dryer.
- Clean the dryer lint filter after each load to maximize efficiency.
- Kitchen
- Manually air-dry dishes or use air-dry feature on your dishwasher.
- Ensure oven door seals are in good condition.
- Lighting
- CFLs use up to two-thirds less energy and last six to 10 times longer than traditional bulbs.
- Take advantage of natural daylight when possible and decorate rooms with lighter colors to reflect light.
- Heating
- Set the thermostat at 68ºF or lower when heating your home.
- If windows face the south, open drapes during the day to utilize the sunlight for heat.
-
Central Air Conditioning
- Set the thermostat at 78ºF or higher when cooling your home.
- Keep windows and drapes closed while using cooling.
- Room Air Conditioning
- Clean grills, filters and drains once a month.
- Use an interior fan to spread the cooled air more efficiently.
-
Refrigerator
- Check and adjust refrigerator settings between 37ºF and 40ºF.
- Clean condenser coils at least once a year.
- Water Use
- Low-flow shower heads and faucets can reduce the amount of hot water used per day by 50 percent.
- Insulate your water heater.