Black Hills Energy employees will weatherize the homes of four of its customers in Lincoln on Saturday to help the owners prepare for winter.

The Lincoln houses are part of a companywide program designed to help customers control their energy bills. Eighteen to 20 homes will be weatherized free of charge in Black Hill’s eastern Nebraska service territory.

The company worked with community services agencies to identify homeowners who needed weatherization assistance, said Black Hills spokesman Bob

McKeon. Customers in Norfolk and Columbus and the Omaha area also will get help from employees, who volunteer their time. This is the third year for the program.

Black Hills weatherization teams will inspect and clean furnaces and replace furnace filters. They also will install weather stripping, caulk, pressurized expanding foam, window plastic, outlet gaskets, water heater blankets and water heater pipe insulation if needed.

“Helping customers conserve energy is a Black Hills Energy priority,” Dan Mechtenberg, vice president for Nebraska natural gas operations, said in a news release. “We want to emphasize the importance of conservation and energy efficiency for all customers and at the same time extend a helping hand to selected customers.”

Customers whose homes are weatherized through the program will receive general energy conservation tips and a complimentary package of fluorescent or CFL light bulbs.

Also, Black Hills employees will check batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace them if necessary. They also will install detectors if a home doesn’t have them.