Plug in and save

Save money with energy saving devices. Save wear & tear on your vehicle's engine. Save Interior Alaska's air quality that becomes polluted by cold vehicle exhaust. GVEA and the Fairbanks North Star Borough recommend plugging in at 20° above zero.

Vehicle plug-in $$ saving devices

TIMER - turns the electricity to your vehicle on and off at the times you choose.

SWITCHED OUTLET - wired to your headbolt outlet, it's a light switch inside your home that allows you to control the electricity to your vehicle without going outside.

Calculate the cost to plug in

Typical engine preheating wattages

Midsize vehicle........600-1000 watts
Large car or truck...1000-1500 watts

Use this formula to compute the cost to plug in your vehicle:
(Total watts / 1000) X hours used X 16.5¢ = Cost

Based on 600 to 1500 watts, the cost range per hour to plug in is 10¢ to 25¢. That's $30 - $75 a month if you plug in overnight (10 hours).

A well-maintained vehicle only needs 2-5 hours of heating to start; 4-5 hours for diesels. Depending on your vehicle and heater type, that can be a significant savings - ranging from $15 to $37 a month.

Use one of the money saving devices listed above to make plugging in more economical. For more info, contact our Energy Efficiency Specialist at 452-1151.