Lakeland Electric Offers Tips for Unusually Cold Weather

While Florida is not accustomed to the extreme cold the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is forecasting for this weekend, our community is no stranger to preparing for severe weather events.

With colder temperatures expected through early next week, Lakeland Electric is encouraging customers to take a few simple steps to stay comfortable, use heating equipment safely and manage energy use during colder periods.

“Cold weather in Florida hits differently because our homes and habits aren’t built for it,” said Cathryn Lacy, spokesperson at Lakeland Electric. “Just like we prepare ahead of hurricane season, a little planning now can help customers stay warm and avoid surprise bills later.”

The coldest temperatures are expected during two overnight periods — Saturday night into Sunday morning and Sunday night into Monday morning — when heating systems typically work hardest in the morning hours before 9 a.m. Even short cold snaps can lead to higher energy use during these times.

Lakeland Electric encourages customers to consider the following cold-weather tips to help lower bills:

• Set thermostats to 68 degrees or lower
• Use space heaters, fireplaces or electric blankets to warm the rooms you are using, which can help reduce the need to raise whole-house heating
• Open blinds or curtains during the day to let sunlight naturally warm your home, then close them at night to help keep cold air out
• Place a towel or draft stopper at the bottom of exterior doors to help block cold air
• Limit nonessential electric use during colder mornings and evenings, when heating systems typically work hardest

Customers on Shift to Save or Demand rate plans may benefit from paying closer attention to off-peak periods during colder mornings. Monitoring usage and making timing adjustments where possible can help manage costs during this unusual cold snap.

Additional cold-weather preparedness tips are available at: https://lakelandelectric.com/news/___preparingforextremecoldweather.