Cold Weather Can Drive Up Heating Costs — Tampa Electric Provides Ways...

With colder temperatures expected over the next week, routines can change quickly. Tampa Electric understands many households are keeping a close eye on expenses, and higher energy costs remain a concern as the temporary storm surcharge continues through September. Colder weather can add to that stress as home heating needs increase.

During a cold snap, heating systems often run longer to maintain indoor comfort, which can increase energy use. Our goal is to help you stay warm and safe while using energy as efficiently as possible. To help, Tampa Electric is sharing easy, practical steps you can take to stay warm and use energy wisely.

Staying safe and warm indoors

• Lower your thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting and keep the temperature constant. With a heat pump, only adjust the temperature by two degrees at a time, to avoid activating the supplemental heat strip.
• Set your central heating unit fan to "auto."
• Inspect air filters regularly and replace them monthly.
• Consider installing a smart thermostat that can cut heating costs up to 15 percent. Check out Tampa Electric's Prime Time Plus program for a smart thermostat and monthly bill credits or our money back rebate on Energy Star certified smart thermostats.
• Turn off unnecessary lighting. If you have incandescent bulbs, consider replacing them with energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs.
• Set the temperature of your electric water heater to 120° and limit hot water use.
• Check that your attic access door/panel closes tightly and is insulated.
• Switch your ceiling fan's rotation. Hot air rises, so reverse your fan's blades to a clockwise rotation to help push that warmth right back down to you.
• Keep freezer and refrigerator doors closed. Make sure they are properly sealed. Set your refrigerator temperature at 35° and your freezer at 0° to achieve best energy efficiency.
• Have a fireplace? Be sure to close the dampers when not in use.
• Avoid using your exhaust fans. Your bathroom fans and oven hoods are often-overlooked sources of heat loss. Use your exhaust fans sparingly, and turn them off when not in use.
• Get free heat the natural way: Let the sun heat your home by opening the curtains of south-facing windows during the day.
• As a reminder, even if your thermostat stays the same, a cold snap can increase your bill because the system has to run longer to maintain the indoor temperature. When it's colder outside, heat escapes faster, so your heater uses more energy-and that raises the cost.

Check out additional energy-efficiency tips for home.

Here are some helpful safety tips to keep in mind when using electric blankets and space heaters:

• Snuggle up in an electric blanket. If you already have one, inspect for cracks or breaks in the wiring, plugs or connectors and look for charred spots on both sides of the blanket surfaces. Any of these conditions indicates a potential fire hazard.
• To prevent excessive heat buildup, make sure nothing covers your electric blanket, such as quilts, blankets or pets. Never "tuck in" the sides or ends of your electric blanket. The heating coils may become damaged or bent and may cause a fire.
• Don't leave your space heater on all night; the fire hazard is too great. Use extra blankets instead.
• Check that your space heater has an automatic switch that turns off the electric current if the unit is tipped over.
• If you're using an extension cord, double check that it's rated to handle the power your space heater requires. Don't use light-duty extension cords with your space heater.
• Keep your space heater away from drapes, furniture and other flammable items.
• Be certain your home wiring is designed to handle your space heater. If in doubt, contact a licensed electrician.
• Avoid using your space heater in the bathroom. If you must, keep it as far away as possible from the shower, tub and sink. And never touch the heater when you're wet!

For more ways to save, visit TampaElectric.com/Save to complete our free Online Energy Audit and be sure to check out our Energy Calculators.

Tampa Electric understands that seasonal electric bills can be a hardship for some customers. To help, the company offers a variety of options to assist with bill payments:

• Budget Billing is designed to help manage energy costs, reduce seasonal bill shocks and maintain a budget with predictable monthly payments.
• Due Date Plus assists residential customers on a fixed income or whose Social Security, retirement, disability or other support payment is received on a date that doesn't coincide with their utility bill due date.

If you are struggling to pay your bill, help might be available. Tampa Electric encourages customers to contact the company to explore payment options or financial assistance programs. Please visit TampaElectric.com/PayAssist for more information about these and other assistance programs.

If you have questions about your bill or energy usage, please visit our website at TampaElectric.com or call us to speak with a customer service representative.

Tampa Electric, one of Florida's largest investor-owned electric utilities, serves about 870,000 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.