FPL Shares Ways to Save as Cold Weather Sets In
By Florida Power & Light Company
As temperatures dip, Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) encourages Northwest Florida residents to prepare for colder weather, which may lead to increased energy usage. Coupled with several other factors, including the high cost of natural gas, one of the fuels used to make electricity, customers will see their energy bills rise as we move into the new year.
When temperatures drop into the 30s, or even lower, customers may turn to their heating equipment, which can increase their energy usage significantly. Heating can use two to three times more energy than cooling. FPL is here to help and offers the following tips, which can lead to savings of more than $56 a month on your energy bill during winter months.
Three tips to follow when heating your home
- When heating your home, set your thermostat to 68 degrees. Every degree above 68 can add up to 10% in heating costs.
- As an alternative to heating the entire home, you can stay warm and save money by using space heaters and electric blankets. Use space heaters safely – only use units with a thermostat and only in small areas while you are in the room. Always keep away from children and pets and avoid using an extension cord to power them.
- If you have a heat pump, avoid changing your thermostat by more than two degrees at a time to help prevent emergency heat from turning on. Using your emergency or auxiliary heating for more than 12 hours a day can account for up to $20 per day on your energy bill.*
Bonus tip: When it comes to water heaters, keep your heater temperature to 120 degrees to still provide plenty of hot water while saving money.
Energy-efficient A/C rebates to help offset rising costs in the long-run
FPL offers a $150 rebate to customers who use an FPL Participating Independent Contractor (PIC) to install a new energy-efficient A/C unit. Some customers may also qualify for up to $2,000 in tax rebates for heat pumps installed after 1/1/23. For more information visit, FPL.com/acsavings.
FPL’s House of Savings: a free tool to help you save
In time for the colder weather, FPL has launched a winter edition of the House of Savings, an innovative, interactive tool that uses augmented reality to help customers learn how to save on their monthly bill. This free resource, which can be found on FPL.com/waystosave, has been updated to feature winter-specific tips, helping customers learn how to stay warm and still save.
*Cost of strip heat is based on a 7.5KW strip heat running 12-16 hours per day.
