With Progress Energy's rate increase set for Monday, savvy Raleigh consumer Marvin Woll offers these tips for staying warm and saving money this winter.

Lower your thermostat. Every degree lower will result in a 3- to 5-percent savings on your electric bill. Turning it down five degrees can lower your electric bill by as much as 25 percent. Sweatshirts, sweaters and a pair of wool socks can help keep you warm.

Open doors to appliances. When your dishwasher's drying cycle begins, open the door and let the warm steam enter the kitchen.

After holiday baking, open the oven door and let the heat escape into the house. When the clothes dryer shuts off, open the door to release that heat, too.

Before using these and other techniques, Woll says his electric bill averaged $150 a month. "We now average $90 per month."