Higher temperatures can mean higher utility bills
Consumers are seeing higher prices for nearly everything these days, and Tampa Electric wants to help reduce your summer energy bill.
Due to global events, the price of natural gas has more than doubled since January and will continue to put pressure on energy bills. Long-term, Tampa Electric is focused on expanding solar power, which will help to reduce fuel-price volatility for customers.
In the short term, with recent record-high temperatures this summer, your power use – and bill – may be higher than typical. To help customers better manage their energy use, Tampa Electric offers more energy-saving programs than any other investor-owned utility in Florida. Get savings for home and business.
Here are a few ways to use less energy (and help reduce your power bill):
- Set your thermostat at 78 degrees and set the fan on “auto.” Every degree below 78 can add 6 percent to 8 percent to the cooling portion of your power bill.
- Use ceiling fans – but only in occupied rooms. Fans cool people, not furniture. For summer, rotate the blades counter-clockwise.
- Limit your pool pump to run eight hours a day or as recommended by your pool service.
- Use the microwave or grill to cook food, to keep the kitchen from heating up.
- Set your refrigerator temperature at 37 degrees and your freezer at 5 degrees. Keep the doors closed and properly sealed. Clean the refrigerator coils quarterly and turn on the power-saver mode, if available.
- Lower the temperature setting on your water heater to 120 degrees. Keep showers to under seven minutes.
- Run washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full; wash laundry with cold water.
- Close the curtains or blinds in sunny rooms, to keep the heat out.
- Turn off computers and monitors when not in use, or put them in “sleep” mode. Unplug electronics, gadgets and chargers.
- Clean or replace air conditioning filters each month. This helps the unit run more efficiently.
- Check for leaky windows and doors, and don’t forget the fireplace damper, if you have one.
- Make sure your attic is sufficiently insulated. Save about 15 percent annually on energy bills when you add the appropriate levels of ceiling insulation, plus you may qualify for a TECO rebate.
- Learn more about how you can adjust your energy use with these Energy Calculators.
To continue to help manage your energy costs, you can get a free Energy Audit from Tampa Electric. Our audit includes an inspection of your home that identifies areas where you may be wasting valuable energy. We also offer audits online and by phone; call 813-275-3909 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tampa Electric has been encouraging sustainability for over 40 years. In that time, more than 1.25 million customers have participated in the company’s energy-saving programs. In 2021 alone, more than 10 percent of Tampa Electric’s customers participated in at least one energy-saving program. We’re proud to offer more energy-saving programs than any other utility in the state. One of our top priorities is to help residential and business customers reduce their overall energy use, and ultimately their energy costs.
Tampa Electric, one of Florida’s largest investor-owned electric utilities, serves about 800,000 customers in West Central Florida. Tampa Electric is a subsidiary of Emera Inc., a geographically diverse energy and services company headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
