Given the weather, staying cozy indoors may seem like the ideal choice, but Puget Sound Energy says heat lovers may pay the price when the next round of bills come calling.

The continued cold weather, with below-freezing temperatures, has pushed customers to crank up the heat, raising natural gas usage to a new record high last week.

PSE reminds customers that the increased energy usage due to extreme cold weather will be reflected in future energy bills. The company suggests customers use energy wisely, particularly during the peak periods of customer use in the early morning and late afternoon.

To help with some of the future budget crunch, PSE will offer installment plans for customers to make their electrical and natural gas bills more affordable.

PSE customers having trouble paying their utility bill are urged to call the utility to make payment arrangements. They also may be able to get help from PSE’s Home Energy Lifeline Program, or HELP. With a $4.8 million boost in funding, HELP will provide nearly $14.7 million over the coming year to help low-income households served by PSE pay their natural gas and electricity bills.

Bellevue-based PSE closely monitored the National Weather Service forecast over the past week and was prepared to respond to power outages that resulted from the winter weather conditions that hit the Puget Sound.

The heavy snowfall this week found PSE crews responding to sporadic power outages as the snow accumulated on tree branches that snapped off into power lines, reported a PSE representative.

The snow caused a PSE substation in South Bellevue, located at 108th Avenue Southeast, to trip off Sunday evening. Two tree limbs at different times had broken off into power lines near the substation, causing nearly 3,600 customers to lose power. Crews worked through the snow storm to find the limbs and bring the power back on at about 3 a.m.

On Monday morning, utility crews surveyed the power lines leading into and out of the substation to make sure all obstructions near the lines were gone.

In the event of damage to the utility’s electric system, PSE urges customers to stay away from downed power lines and to immediately report the location of fallen wires to PSE by calling 1-888-225-5773, or call 911.

Tips from PSE:

* Create an “Outage Kit,” a five-day survival kit with bottled water, non-perishable food, can opener, flashlights, batteries, batter-powered radio, matches and candles.

* Do not use charcoal or a gas grill to cook indoors. Both can cause a buildup of poisonous carbon monoxide gas.

*Turn off lights and unplug all appliances and sensitive electronic equipment, such as computers, to prevent an overload on circuits when electric service is restored. (Leave one light on to indicate when service returns).

PSE energy-saving tips:

*Lower the thermostat at bedtime or while gone during the day. Setting the thermostat to 58 degrees during sleep hours can decrease a natural gas bill by up to 7 percent.

*Seal air leaks around drafty windows and doors.

*Check furnace filters monthly and clean or replace them when necessary.

*Keep heating outlets and return registers clear of furniture or other objects.

*Keep fireplace dampers and glass doors closed when a fireplace is not in use.

For more energy-saving tips and information about bill-payment plans, visit PSE.com or call 1-888-225-5773.