FPL offers ways to save money by using energy wisely in cold weather

JUNO BEACH, Fla., Jan. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mild Florida winters normally bring an opportunity to don a favorite sweater or open windows to enjoy the crisp air. When a cold snap hits, what comes as a surprise to many is that heating your home costs more than cooling it.

With cooler weather expected to enter our state, Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) encourages customers to take control of their energy usage this winter and save money with these helpful tips.

"Because extreme cold weather is so rare in Florida, many heating systems aren't built to work efficiently – they require more energy to operate, which translates to higher costs," said FPL Energy Expert Tiffany Spence. "We know that every dollar customers can save helps. By taking small steps to use energy wisely this winter, they can make their bills even lower."

Small steps for big savings

Here are simple tips customers can use to save energy and money this winter:

• Start at 68 – If you need to heat your home, set your thermostat to 68 degrees with the fan set to "auto" and be sure to turn off your heat when you leave. Every degree below 68 saves you five percent on heating costs.
• Check your filters – Clean or replace your air conditioner filter regularly (approximately each month) to help your unit operate more efficiently.
• Keep warm air in – Seal doors and windows with weatherstripping or caulk, which helps prevent warm air from leaking out.
• Harness the sun – Make sure your south-facing windows are clean and open those curtains during the day to heat your home with the sun.
• Lower your water heater temperature – Set your water heater temperature at 115 to 120 degrees to conserve energy. Shortening your showers helps, too!
• Give your pool pump a break – Reduce the time you run your pool pump by two hours a day to save up to $8.21 per month.

Customers can actively monitor their energy usage by the month, day or hour using FPL's Online Energy Dashboard – a tool that can drive smarter, energy-saving choices in every season to make bills even lower.

Be safe when using space heaters

Remember these tips to stay safe while keeping warm:

• Limit their use – Only use space heaters for limited amounts of time and not as a primary heat source. Direct space heaters to warm people, not rooms.
• Watch out for flammables – Keep flammable materials and furniture at least three feet away from the heater.
• Keep a safe distance – Space heaters should always be kept away from children, pets and water to avoid electric shock.
• Use under supervision – Turn off and unplug the space heater when leaving the room for an extended period of time. Avoid using extension cords.

For more information, visit FPL.com/wintertips.

About Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is the third-largest electric utility in the United States, serving more than 4.8 million customer accounts or more than 10 million people across nearly half of the state of Florida. FPL's typical 1,000-kWh residential customer bill is approximately 30 percent lower than the latest national average and, in 2015, was the lowest in Florida among reporting utilities for the sixth year in a row. FPL's service reliability is better than 99.98 percent, and its highly fuel-efficient power plant fleet is one of the cleanest among all utilities nationwide. The company received the top ranking in the southern U.S. among large electric providers, according to the J.D. Power 2016 Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study^SM, and was recognized in 2016 as one of the most trusted U.S. electric utilities by Market Strategies International. A leading Florida employer with approximately 8,800 employees, FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla.-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), a clean energy company widely recognized for its efforts in sustainability, ethics and diversity, and has been ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry in Fortune's 2016 list of "World's Most Admired Companies." NextEra Energy is also the parent company of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.

SOURCE Florida Power & Light Company