JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Many people in Northeast Florida raced to turn on their thermostats Friday as temperatures crept past record lows, which means a higher electric bill this month.
The Jacksonville Electric Authority is monitoring power consumption, and a spokesperson said it's more than the 2,900 megawatts that was used last year during the winter peak.
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"It looks like we are going to brush 3,000 megawatts and what that means is, that when it's cold, we usually hit the record. The peak is around 7 a.m. because that's when people wake up, their cold and hit their thermostats and that's when we see a demand for electricity," said JEA spokesperson, Gerri Boyce.
Boyce said are are some simple ways to saving money during cold weather like this.
"We've had a lot of winter-whiplash lately. We'll have really cold temperatures and then really warm temperatures, but what you need to remember is that when we have these cold days you want to keep that thermostat no higher than 68-degrees," said Boyce.
Boyce said if you set your thermostat to 74-degrees, you'll be dishing out up to 22% more on your bill, because your HVAC or your heating is 40%-50% of your electric use on your utility bill.
"Make sure you're wearing sweaters, that you have slippers or socks on and that's a great way to keep that cost down and stay warm," said Boyce.
Boyce said it may be a good idea to use a space heater if you live alone, rather than upping the thermostat.
"If you're only using a small area, a space heater will save you on energy costs. Just remember, to use space heaters carefully and safely," said Boyce.