Tag Archives: electric bill

Nothing is scarier than wasting electricity on energy phantoms

“While FPL customers have the lowest electric bill in Florida, we’re committed to helping them and their families manage the energy they use every day,” said Craig Muccio, FPL Energy Expert.

Juno Beach, FL (October 31, 2012) — FPL offers kids Top 10 Tips to Fight Energy Phantoms lurking in homes this Halloween.

Florida Power & Light Company doesn’t want its customers to get spooked by energy phantoms creeping around this Halloween. In fact, the company has many ways to help shed light on these unwanted energy consumers.

Phantom energy, or phantom load, is electricity consumed by an electrical device when it is in the “off” mode. Many electronic items are in “standby” mode when turned off, helping them turn on faster or respond to a remote control. Power adapters, such as cell phone chargers, are also powered whenever they are plugged in. This is why they feel slightly warm even when there’s no device connected. Also, anything with a lit digital display uses a tiny bit of power, even when not in use.

“While FPL customers have the lowest electric bill in Florida, we’re committed to helping them and their families manage the energy they use every day,” said Craig Muccio, FPL Energy Expert. “Halloween is a perfect time to teach kids how they can rid their homes of these scary energy-phantoms.”

Top 10 Tips to Fight Energy Phantoms

1. Unplug your charger when you’re not charging your cell phone
2. Turn off electronics, like the radio, TV, computer and video games, as well as lights and ceiling fans when you leave a room
3. Keep windows and outside doors closed when the air conditioning is on
4. Open curtains so you can use the sunlight during the day
5. Use a small lamp when you read or study at night
6. Use the microwave to warm up food instead of the stove
7. Decide what you want from the refrigerator before opening the door
8. Turn off the dishwasher before the drying cycle to let the dishes air dry
9. Take short showers so you’re not using as much energy to heat water
10. Ask your parents to replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights

There are other tips that can help you reduce the amount of electricity you may not realize you’re wasting, find out what they are at, http://www.FPL.com/energyfit.

About Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is the largest electric utility in Florida and one of the largest rate-regulated utilities in the United States. FPL serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida and is a leading employer in the state with approximately 10,000 employees. The company consistently outperforms national averages for service reliability while customer bills are below the national average. A clean energy leader, FPL has one of the lowest emissions profiles and one of the leading energy efficiency programs among utilities nationwide. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla. – based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more information, visit http://www.FPL.com.

Media Contact:
FPL Media Line
Florida Power & Light Company
700 Universe Blvd.
Juno Beach, FL 33408
305-552-3888
amelia.gomez@rbbpr.com
http://www.newsroom.fpl.com/phantoms

Energy-Efficient Donations help Fort Myers Homeless Organization save on its Electric Bill

Businesses and organizations looking to better manage their energy use and save on their monthly bills can take FPL’s free Business Energy Evaluation.

Juno Beach, FL (October 3, 2012) — Today, Florida Power & Light Company and local contractors led an effort to benefit a nonprofit organization that helps those in need every day. Fort Myers-based Community Cooperative Ministries Incorporated (CCMI) received a free energy makeover from FPL, which will help the organization save at least $3,000 a year in electricity costs.

Incorporated in 1984, the CCMI is dedicated to ending hunger in Lee County by providing nutritious meals, groceries, quality early childhood education, social services, case management and referral to the homeless, homebound, seniors, working poor, children and the frail in our community. The agency provides more than 14,000 meals each month through their Everyday Café & Marketplace and Home Delivered Meals programs. CCMI also educates 40 children in its Community Montessori, offers homeless and comprehensive case management services through its United Way Resource House, oversees an emergency mobile food pantry and supplies weekend backpacks full of food to more than 2,500 children each school year.

“We are so appreciative and thankful to FPL and its partners for their generosity and hard work in making our organization more energy-efficient,” said Tracey Galloway, CEO of Community Cooperative Ministries Incorporated. “It feels good to know that there are companies out there that take an active role helping those in need in our community. The money we save on our electric bill will help us to provide more comprehensive services to the homeless in our community.”

FPL and local contractors added film to all windows to save energy by reducing solar heat gain in summer and retaining heat in winter. Other upgrades included the installation of energy-efficient lighting and the addition of new freezer curtain strips in the organization’s large walk-in freezer to keep chilled air inside and energy bills even lower.

“We are very grateful for the CCMI’s important role in the community,” said FPL Community Relations Specialist, Tim Moore. “We’re happy that we are able to give back to such an integral organization in our neighborhood. This makeover has allowed us to give the CCMI a long-term return on the investments we make here today at no charge to them. FPL customers have the lowest electric bills in the state, and these upgrades will help them continue to save and further help others who need assistance.”

Most of the energy efficiency upgrades that were completed today can be adopted by any business customer looking to make smarter energy choices. Businesses and organizations looking to better manage their energy use and save on their monthly bills can take FPL’s free Business Energy Evaluation.

About Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is the largest electric utility in Florida and one of the largest rate-regulated utilities in the United States. FPL serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida and is a leading employer in the state with approximately 10,000 employees. The company consistently outperforms national averages for service reliability while customer bills are below the national average. A clean energy leader, FPL has one of the lowest emissions profiles and one of the leading energy efficiency programs among utilities nationwide. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla. – based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more information, visit http://www.FPL.com.

Media Contact:
FPL Media Line
Florida Power & Light Company
700 Universe Blvd.
Juno Beach, FL 33408
305-552-3888
amelia.gomez@rbbpr.com
http://www.newsroom.fpl.com

FPL offers Snowbirds ways to save Energy While Away

FPL’s energy efficiency blogger, Danielle Mousseau, recognizes the opportunity to help seasonal residents. “We’ve noticed that seasonal residents have been very active on our blog, asking questions on ways they can save and how they can prevent mold while they’re away for the summer,” says Mousseau.

Juno Beach, FL (April 5, 2012) — Rising temperatures in Florida mark the time of year when seasonal residents begin preparing to close their homes for the summer. These snowbirds face unique challenges in preparing their homes, and Florida Power & Light (FPL) wants to help seasonal residents in its service territory face challenges like mold prevention and storm preparation, and help them save on their electric bills, too.

Although the number of seasonal residents varies, FPL estimates that there are about 400,000 seasonal residents its service territory.

FPL’s energy efficiency blogger, Danielle Mousseau, recognizes the opportunity to help seasonal residents. “We’ve noticed that seasonal residents have been very active on our blog, asking questions on ways they can save and how they can prevent mold while they’re away for the summer,” says Mousseau. “To help meet their needs, we developed a comprehensive checklist that they can use to help them save energy and money as well as prevent mold when their home is vacant.”

Like all FPL customers, seasonal residents benefit from the lowest electric bill out of the state’s 55 electric utilities, and a bill that is 25 percent below the national average, says Mousseau.

Here’s FPL’s checklist to prevent mold and save energy while your home is vacant:

Mold prevention
• For programmable thermostats: Set your A/C to run at 72 degrees for just two hours each morning before sunrise and at 88 degrees the rest of the time.
• For non-programmable thermostats: Set your A/C to run at 80 degrees while you are away. If you live in a condo or apartment set your A/C at 77 degrees.
• For maximum energy savings: Use dehumidifiers instead of air conditioning. Set dehumidifiers at 58 percent by sinks and showers, one for every 1,000 square feet. Be sure to place the dehumidifiers so the water runs into the drain.

Appliances

• Water heater: Unplug or turn off the circuit breaker to the hot water heater
• Unplug appliances and electronics. For security reasons, you may want to place timers on indoor lamps.
• Refrigerators: If you prefer to keep your refrigerator on, set it at its warmest setting. If your prefer to keep your refrigerator off, make sure to clean the interior with solution of 1 tbsp. of baking soda in 1 quart of water; dry thoroughly and leave doors open. Remove all food from the freezer and refrigerator and leave the refrigerator door propped open. If you have an automatic ice maker, switch it to the “off” position.

Pool
• Set your pool pump to run no more than six hours a day.
• Arrange for someone to check your pool’s chemical levels and water level while you’re away.

Billing and Payment Options
• For the easiest ways to receive and pay your FPL bill while you’re away, visit http://www.FPL.com/easy

Hurricane Preparedness
• Make arrangements for hurricane shutters to be installed prior to your departure if you will be gone for the duration of hurricane season, which runs from June to November.

Other
• Make sure all smoke alarms are working and have fresh batteries.
• Discard all perishable items.
• Ask someone to check on your property every two weeks while you’re away.
• Turn off the main water valve unless you have an automatic fire-sprinkler system. If you do, turn off the water valves to your washing machine, kitchen and bathroom sinks, dishwasher and toilets.

About Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is the largest electric utility in Florida and one of the largest rate-regulated utilities in the United States. FPL serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida and is a leading employer in the state with approximately 10,000 employees. The company consistently outperforms national averages for service reliability while customer bills are below the national average. A clean energy leader, FPL has one of the lowest emissions profiles and one of the leading energy efficiency programs among utilities nationwide. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla. – based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more information, visit http://www.FPL.com.

Media Contact:
FPL Media Line
Florida Power & Light Company
700 Universe Blvd.
Juno Beach, FL 33408
305-552-3888
amelia.gomez@rbbpr.com
http://www.fpl.com
For more information, visit: http://on.fb.me/GTJshe