Floridians are expected to experience the coldest temperatures in nearly a decade this weekend, with forecasts predicting temperatures 20-25 degrees below the seasonal average. Duke Energy Florida is urging customers to take steps to manage their energy use as heating systems will be working harder, leading to higher energy consumption.
Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president, said, “Duke Energy’s team of meteorologists tells us the Sunshine State is in for a bit of a shock this weekend – here in St. Petersburg, where our headquarters have been for more than 125 years, we could see temperatures below freezing for the first time since 2018. While we’re fully prepared to manage the increased energy consumption we know will come from this cold spell, we hope all of our customers, from the panhandle down to Highlands County, will utilize the resources we offer to take control of their own usage and save money.”
To help customers save on their bills during this period of high demand, Duke Energy is promoting several programs and practical tips. Customers can receive up to $141 in annual bill credits by enrolling qualified appliances through the EnergyWise Home Program or reduce costs by shifting energy use to off-peak hours via the Time-of-use Rate Program.
Other recommendations include setting thermostats at the lowest comfortable level, changing air filters regularly for efficiency, sealing air leaks around windows and doors, operating ceiling fans clockwise to distribute warm air downward (and turning them off when leaving a room), and using sunlight during daytime hours while closing blinds at night for insulation.
Duke Energy also provides Usage Alerts so customers can monitor their energy consumption and make adjustments before receiving their bills. More information about these resources can be found at duke-energy.com/SeasonalSavings.
Duke Energy Florida supplies electricity across a 13,000-square-mile area in Florida and serves approximately two million residential, commercial and industrial customers. The company owns 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity within its service region.
Duke Energy Corporation is among America’s largest utility companies with electric services reaching 8.4 million customers across six states and natural gas utilities serving an additional 1.7 million people. The company continues investing in grid upgrades and cleaner generation sources such as renewables and storage as part of its broader strategy toward an updated energy infrastructure.
Contact information for further inquiries includes Aly Raschid (24-Hour: 800.559.3853; X: @DE_AlyRaschid).
