The Capital Region’s largest electric provider says customers can expect stable home energy bills this winter.

National Grid shared its annual Winter Heating Season Forecast at the company’s training lab in Schenectady Tuesday morning.

“This time of year, many are thinking of ways to warm their homes for the winter season,” said Laurie Poltynski, regional director of National Grid.

National Grid projects total residential natural gas bills between the months of November and March to be $455, about $12 less than a typical upstate winter.

“I think customers should feel really good,” said Poltynski. "We’ve had fixed rates based on our rate case for the last two years, and we will be filing for a new rate case come March of 2018, but right now, rates have been very stable."

Electric customers can expect to pay about $2 more per month compared to last winter.

“It is surprisingly good that we are able to maintain prices that way, I think,” said Poltynski.

Company officials say natural gas and electric supply prices dipped because customers used less energy than normal last winter, due to the mild weather.

“I think this year, we’re predicted to see some significant snowfall. That will impact how you feel inside your house,” said Renee Devine, director of National Grid’s energy efficiency programs in the Capital Region.

To help customers save, company officials outlined rebates and incentives for energy efficiency investments.

"New this year is our ConnectedSolutions program that can help you manage smart devices such as wi-fi-enabled thermostats,” said Devine.

Officials also had tips to help customers prepare their homes for winter.

“It is so important that you seal those cracks and make sure that your windows are insulated, [and] your house is insulated,” said Devine.

Changing your furnace filter is a good start.

“If yours looks anything like this, you want to replace it,” said Ron Metzger, a National Grid meter services employee, showing members of the media a dusty furnace filter preventing heat from entering a home.

Customers who may have challenges paying their National Grid bills are asked to contact the company as soon as possible. Help is available to those who qualify. For more information, visit nationalgridus.com.