News

1/12/2010

PRECO Encourages Members To Conserve Electricity

Floridahas seen recent record low temperatures. As a result, Peace River Electric Cooperative (PRECO), Wauchula, which serves 10 central Florida counties, is advising consumers to monitor and reduce their use of electricity.

“PRECO members recently set an all-time high for electric usage,” shares Nell McCauley, Chief Marketing and Member Services Officer, “more than doubling the normal usage for this time of year.” Under normal conditions, PRECO’s distribution system uses 77 megawatts of electricity per day; however, the prolonged recent cold snap caused temperatures to plummet into the 20s and ballooned usage to 165 megawatts.

“We are urging our members to cut back and conserve their use of electricity in order to reduce the strain on the electric grid and their pocketbooks,” added McCauley. “We’re anticipating that consumers will have forgotten about these harsh winter days by the time the electric bill arrives, causing a sudden case of sticker shock.” By reducing electric consumption now, PRECO’s members can ease the pain when the bill arrives.

The cooperative is offering advice on controlling electricity usage:

·       Keep thermostats set no higher than 70 degrees

·       Wear warm clothes or layer clothing

·       Turn off unnecessary lights. Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) where possible. CFLs use 75% less electricity than incandescents.

·       Use the microwave for cooking, instead of the stove

·       Apply weather stripping around drafty doors

·       Use dishwashers and clothes dryers sparingly and only for full loads.

Peace River Electric Cooperative offers free energy audits to their members. The audit can help the homeowner identify potential problems that may affect their electric bill, such as inadequate insulation or leaks around doors or windows.

To schedule an energy audit, call PRECO’s Energy Services Department toll-free at 1-800-282-3824.

You can also use the online Home Energy Calculator link to conduct your own energy audit at www.preco.coop.

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