Tampa Electric Offers Tips to Save Energy (and Money) While...

The holiday season is here - a time for family gatherings and home-cooked favorites. The kitchen truly is the heart of the holidays. But with all the cooking, baking and entertaining, your energy use can spike, which can drive up your power bill.

With just a few simple changes, you can raise the holiday cheer while lowering your energy bills. Tampa Electric has some simple, smart ways to keep your home merry, bright and efficient all season long.

Cook Smarter, Not Harder

• A perfect fit: A 6-inch pot on an 8-inch burner wastes more than 40% of the heat. Use the right-sized cookware to save up to $36 a year on an electric range.
• Think small (appliances): For reheating leftovers or small dishes, use the microwave or air fryer. Microwaves use about 50% less energy, and air fryers cook faster while using about 65% less energy than a conventional oven.
• Keep it covered: Lids on pots and pans trap heat, help food cook faster and keep your kitchen from overheating.
• Fill it up: Baking multiple dishes? Maximize oven space by cooking items that require the same temperature at once. And resist the urge to peek: Every time you open the oven door, the temperature can drop by 25 degrees.

Keep Your Cool (and Your Savings)

• Set your freezer between zero and 5 degrees and your fridge between 34 and 37 degrees. Going just 10 degrees colder than needed can waste 25% more energy.
• If weather cooperates, fire up the grill and take your cooking outdoors. It keeps your kitchen from overheating and adds a smoky twist to your holiday feast.
• Let hot leftovers cool before putting them in the fridge - it helps your appliance work less and saves energy.

Brighten Safely and Save

• Invest in energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) lights. They produce very little heat and use less energy, so they are safer than incandescent lights and will save you money.
• Make sure your holiday lights and cords are in good condition (no broken lights or frayed cords).
• Never string holiday lights on or near power lines. When using a ladder, take extra time to set it up properly on stable ground. Look above your head before climbing the ladder to ensure you are not near power lines.

At Tampa Electric, safety is always a top priority. For additional tips to keep your holidays safe, merry and bright, visit TampaElectric.com/HolidayLights.

Tampa Electric, one of Florida's largest investor-owned electric utilities, serves more than 860,000 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.