ORLANDO, Fla. – Utility companies across Central Florida are asking customers to conserve electricity as unusually cold temperatures are expected to drive up demand on the power grid this weekend.
Officials with the Orlando Utilities Commission said colder weather typically leads to higher electricity usage as residents turn up their heaters in their homes, putting added strain on the system.
“This is kind of an unprecedented cold snap that we are going to be facing together,” said Dave Mayer with OUC.
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Mayer said customers can help prevent outages by reducing energy use during peak hours and shifting nonessential activities to later in the day.
“As long as we can collectively conserve energy and kind of shift some of our usage to potentially later in the day on Sunday and Monday, that will definitely help,” Mayer said.
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OUC is also asking electric vehicle owners to avoid charging their vehicles during peak demand periods, which are expected from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Sunday and Monday. The same guidance applies to other nonessential appliances.
Other utility providers echoed those concerns. Winter Park Electric is also asking customers to limit power use during peak hours and said the city plans to temporarily disable public electric vehicle chargers on Monday during high-demand periods.
Utility crews across the region said they are prepared to respond to potential outages. Ana Gibbs with Duke Energy said the cold temperatures are unusual for Florida, but at this point, they aren’t asking customers to conserve electricity.
“We really haven’t seen temperatures that are this cold since about 2010, so it’s been over a decade,” Gibbs said.
Gibbs added that Florida’s power grid is interconnected, allowing utilities to share energy if needed.
“Florida is an interconnected grid so that we, if we are able to, will actually share energy,” she said. “It’s called purchased power, so there is a variety of ways that we help each other out.”
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Florida Power & Light officials said they are also preparing for increased demand. Bianca Soriano with FPL said customers enrolled in a voluntary energy-saving program may experience temporary interruptions to certain appliances.
“We may turn off your pool pump and your water heater,” Soriano said.
All utility companies contacted warned customers that higher energy usage could lead to significantly higher electric bills. Officials recommend setting thermostats to 68 degrees to help reduce strain on the grid and manage costs.
Residents are encouraged to stay informed about peak hours and conservation efforts as the cold weather moves through the region.