Lowering Your Power Bill

TAMPA, Fla. — If you've opened your electric bill lately and thought, "Surely this includes the neighbor's power too," you're not alone. With Florida's year-round heat and humidity, a $200 power bill can sneak up fast and leave you wondering if your A/C unit is powered by diamonds.

But before you consider surviving summer with just a hand fan and frozen grapes, there are smarter (and cooler) ways to cut costs. Here's how to lower your electric bill in Florida without sacrificing comfort – or your sanity.

Start with the obvious: Your A/C is probably the main villain

Air conditioning accounts for roughly 40–50% of your home's energy use in Florida, especially during warmer months. If your thermostat is set at 70 degrees because you "like it chilly," your wallet is probably feeling the frostbite.

Tip: Set your thermostat to 75–78 degrees when home, and even higher when you're out. If you don't already have a programmable thermostat, now's the time. It'll adjust your settings automatically and save you from arguments over who touched it last.

Insulation and leaks: The silent wallet killers

Many Florida homes leak cool air like a sieve. Think unsealed windows, drafty doors or insulation so thin it could double as tissue paper.

Solution: Check for air leaks with a candle (safely, please). If the flame flickers near a window or door frame, you've got a leak. Weatherstrip or caulk those gaps. Bonus: your A/C won't have to work overtime, and your cat won't get blown off the windowsill anymore.

Vampire energy is real – and it's sucking your wallet dry

No, this isn't a Halloween article. Phantom energy, also known as vampire power, refers to electronics that consume electricity even when "off." Think TVs, chargers, gaming consoles and fancy espresso machines.

Quick fix: Plug these into smart power strips that shut off power when not in use. Or better yet, unplug the things you don't use daily – looking at you, smoothie blender from 2022.

Lights, camera, turn it off

If you're still using incandescent bulbs, it's time for an upgrade. LED bulbs use up to 75% less energy and last years longer. Plus, they don't heat up your house like a miniature sun.

Also: Turn lights off when you leave a room. Yes, your parents were right.

Laundry habits could be costing you

If you run the dryer every day or wash clothes in hot water, you're flushing money down the lint trap.

Hot showers = hot bills

Long, steamy showers are a luxury – but heating water costs money. If you're in there thinking about life for 20 minutes, your water heater is thinking about its next energy splurge.

Try: Taking shorter showers and turning the water heater down to 120°F. You'll still get warm water without boiling your budget.

Can you really save money by running appliances at night?

If your power company offers time-of-use rates (many in Florida do), running your dishwasher, laundry or even charging devices after 8 p.m. can mean lower costs per kilowatt hour.

Check your utility's website or app for rate structures and peak hours. If you're already a night owl, you might as well wash your towels at 11 p.m.

A smart home is a cheaper home

Smart thermostats, smart plugs and usage-tracking apps from your electric provider can help you see where your energy is going and adjust in real time. Knowledge is power, but in this case, it's also savings.

The bottom line

You don't have to sweat it out like a Florida man stuck in traffic with no A/C. With small changes, smart tech, and some awareness, you can trim that $200 power bill without sacrificing comfort.

Raise the temp, seal the leaks, unplug stuff and be smarter about when and how you use energy.

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