ORLANDO, Fla. – As Central Florida braces for an unexpected cold wave, utility companies are urging residents to cut back on electricity usage to ease the impending strain on the power grid.
Representatives from the Orlando Utilities Commission have noted that colder weather often results in increased electricity consumption. Residents typically crank up their heating systems, which places additional pressure on the grid.
“We’re encountering an unusual cold spell that we’ll all need to tackle together,” stated Dave Mayer from OUC.
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Mayer suggested that customers could help avert power outages by minimizing energy use during peak times and postponing non-essential activities until later in the day.
“If we can all work together to conserve energy and shift some of our usage to later in the day on Sunday and Monday, it would be a great help,” Mayer added.
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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.
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