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Tips to Save Money on Your Summer Energy Bill
On a recent hot and humid day, I overheard someone say, "It's barely the first of June, and summer weather has already arrived!"
As Floridians, we expect the heat and humidity to begin before summer's official start on June 21, but somehow, it's still surprising.
Often accompanying the rising temperatures is a rising electric bill, as we run our air conditioner, fans, refrigerator, pool or spa more often.
Always timely, energy saving tips can help your pocketbook whether it's winter, spring, summer, or fall.
So, before adjusting your thermostat, try some of these energy saving tips from the PSC to help you weather the hot summer. More tips can be found in our
Conserve Your World brochure.
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Beat the heat. Keep your blinds and curtains closed during the day to block out unwanted heat, reducing use of your air conditioner.
Energy Star appliances can reduce overall energy use and costs, too.
- Cook wisely. Instead of using the oven or stovetop, cook outside in the summer. This keeps your home cooler and prevents your air conditioner from working overtime!
- Use a portable or ceiling fan. Circulate the pre-cooled air in your air conditioned home by using a fan.
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Mind the temperature. Use less hot water and/or decrease its temperature for showers, washing machine, and dishwasher -
only run machines that have full loads. Also, adjust the thermostat to 76-78 degrees to keep cool and avoid high electric bills.
- Organize the fridge. Place the most used items in one place so that the door will be open for a shorter period of time.
During periods of high energy use (summer months, for example), some consumers fall behind on paying electric bills. Customers unable to pay their electric bills often call the
PSC for assistance. Fortunately, many Florida utilities have funds that help low-income individuals or families in crisis cover home energy needs.
These funds - from corporate contributions, employee donations, and customer contributions - are administered by local nonprofit and/or government agencies.
A Guide to Utility Assistance in Florida
provides contact information for Florida's electric utilities, so consumers can tap into the large network of social-service organizations
in their service territories.
In Florida, the summer season also means the beginning of Hurricane Season, June 1 - November 30. We work with our utilities year-round to prepare for storm season. Florida's utilities
have detailed plans for measures needed before, during, and after storms, and we encourage consumers to create a similar plan for their families and pets. Our
Hurricane House found on the PSC's
homepage (www.FloridaPSC.com) can help you get started.
More PSC tips are located in Florida Be Prepared for
customers to follow in case of power outages and other utility service interruptions during extreme weather.
If you're still wondering what you can do to save energy, ask your utility about an energy audit for your home or business. Your utility will perform various tests to uncover
any issues with your heating and cooling system, insulation, windows, etc. that impact your electric bill and provide you with a list of recommendations and helpful tips.
Saving energy this summer shouldn't be a major challenge. Use these helpful energy saving tips to keep you and your family cool this summer and maybe to keep a little extra money in
your wallet, too.
Julie I. Brown, FPSC Chairman
CONTACT THE PSC:
On-line: www.FloridaPSC.com
E-mail contact@psc.state.fl.us
Call toll-free number: 800-342-3552
Fax toll-free: 800-511-0809
Send a letter to: The Florida Public Service Commission
2540 Shumard Oak Blvd., Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0850
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For immediate access to PSC consumer information,
download the free Barcode Scanner app on your smartphone, and scan our new 2d barcode
(also called QR or quick response codes).
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July Commission Calendar
| 7/4 | Independence Day Holiday |
| 7/13 | Commission Conference |
June News Releases
Florida PSC Commission Conference set for Monday
PSC Reports Increased Renewable Use by Consumers
Palm Harbor United Methodist Church Receives PSC's Triple E Award
PSC's June Helping Hand is Jacksonville's Mary Singleton Senior Center
May / June Notable FPSC Dockets
Electric and Gas Industry
Docket No. 170143
06/16/2017 - Petition for approval of depreciation rates for Polk 2 combined cycle generating units, by Tampa Electric Company.
Telecommunications Industry
Docket No. 170126
05/30/2017 - Request for approval of amendment to interconnection, unbundling, resale, and collocation agreement between BellSouth Telecommunications, LLC d/b/a AT&T Florida d/b/a AT&T Southeast and Network Telephone, LLC f/k/a Network Telephone, LLC d/b/a Cavalier Telephone d/b/a PAETEC Business Services; The Other Phone Company, LLC f/k/a The Other Phone Company, LLC d/b/a Cavalier Telephone d/b/a PAETEC Business Services; and Talk America, LLC f/k/a Talk America Inc. d/b/a Cavalier Telephone d/b/a PAETEC Business Services.
Water and Wastewater Industry
Docket No. 170141
06/09/2017 - Application for increase in wastewater rates in Monroe County by K W Resort Utilities Corp.
May / June Notable FPSC Orders
Electric and Gas Industry
Order No. PSC-17-0213-NOR-EU
♦ Docket No:
170034
06/08/2017 - Order PSC-17-0213-NOR-EU noticing rulemaking to amend Rule 25-6.0345, FAC; relating to the National Electrical Safety Code as the applicable standards used by electric utilities for the construction of new transmission and distribution facilities; notice of rulemaking appeared in the 6/7/17 FAR; written requests for hearing and written comments on the rules must be received by CLK no later than 6/28/17.
Order No. PSC-17-0219-PCO-EI
♦ Docket No:
170001
06/13/2017 - Order PSC-17-0219-PCO-EI denying Duke Energy's petition for mid-course correction.
Telecommunications Industry
Order No. PSC-17-0210-CO-TL
♦ Docket No:
170087
05/31/2017 - Consummating Order PSC-17-0210-CO-TL makes Order PSC-17-0156-PAA-TL effective and final; docket shall be closed.
Order No. PSC-17-0217-PAA-TA
♦ Docket No:
170113
06/13/2017 - PAA Order PSC-17-0217-PAA-TA directing NeuStar to provide TCAL with additional numbering resources for the Melbourne (ORLDFLCLXAY) switch as soon as possible; order to become final and effective on issuance of CO; docket to be closed if order becomes final; protest due 7/5/17.
Water and Wastewater Industry
Order No. PSC-17-0209-PAA-WU
♦ Docket No:
160065
05/30/2017 - PAA Order PSC-17-0209-PAA-WS granting Bocilla's request for water rate increases in Charlotte County; approved rates shall be effective on or after the stamped approval date; if no protest, order to become final and effective on issuance of a CO; docket shall remain open pending staff's verification that the revised tariff sheets and customer notice have been filed by the utility and approved by staff; protest due 6/20/17.
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