Your furnace works harder when it’s colder

Ever wonder why your heating bill is higher in a colder winter even though you set your thermostat at the same level as last year?

Essentially, the greater the difference between the outside temperature and your desired indoor temperature, the more heat your furnace has to generate to make up that difference.

This additional heat that must be generated requires more natural gas, and the natural gas usually amounts to about half or more of your total heating bill.

One way to pay the same amount – with no seasonal surprises – is to sign up for Budget Billing, which spreads your energy costs evenly over a 12-month period. The amount you pay is based on the average amount billed at your address over the past 12 months.

Visit alliantenergy.com for more information on how to control your winter heating costs.

Alliant Energy Scores 90 in 2017 Corporate Equality Index

Alliant Energy received a score of 90 on the 2017 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

Alliant Energy’s score reflects a commitment to LGBT workplace equality, with respect to tangible policies, benefits and practices.

The company received full credit for questions regarding:

• Equal employment opportunity policy that includes sexual orientation and gender identity expression.
• Holding contractors and vendors to the same standards.
• Providing equal spouse and partner medical benefits.
• Including LGBT in diversity training at all levels of the company.
• Representation on the company’s Diversity Council and an employee resource group for LGBT and ally employees.
• Philanthropic giving, advertising and support of LGBT groups and activities in the communities they serve.

The 2017 CEI rated a total of 1,043 businesses in the report, which evaluates LGBT-related policies and practices including non-discrimination workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health care benefits, competency programs and public engagement with the LGBT community. For more information on the 2017 Corporate Equality Index, or to download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/cei.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.