Floridians are being advised to prepare for an unusually cold weekend, with temperatures expected to drop 20-25 degrees below the seasonal average. This cold spell could bring the lowest temperatures seen in nearly a decade, similar to those experienced in January 2010.
Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president, commented on the forecast: “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.”
As heating systems work harder during extreme weather conditions, Duke Energy is encouraging customers to use programs designed to help them save on energy bills. These include enrolling qualified appliances in the EnergyWise Home Program for up to $141 in annual bill credits and shifting energy use to off-peak hours through the Time-of-use Rate Program.
Additional recommendations from Duke Energy include setting thermostats as low as comfortably possible, changing air filters regularly, sealing leaks around windows and doors, operating ceiling fans clockwise during winter months but turning them off when leaving rooms, and using sunlight by opening blinds during daytime and closing them at night for insulation.
Customers can also sign up for Usage Alerts that allow them to monitor their energy consumption and make adjustments before receiving their bills. More details about these tips and programs 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 customers. Its parent company operates electric utilities serving over eight million customers across several states and continues investments in grid upgrades and cleaner generation sources.
For further information or assistance regarding energy-saving measures during this period of extreme cold weather, customers are encouraged to visit Duke Energy’s website or contact customer service representatives.
