Navigating Florida's Weather: Why Your Energy Bill Feels the Heat (and the Occasional Chill)
Florida’s weather isn’t subtle.
It swings from sweltering heat that keeps your AC running nonstop to the occasional winter cold snap.
In most states, high summer electric bills last a month or two. In Florida, intense heat can linger for up to half the year. When outdoor temperatures stay above comfortable indoor levels for months at a time, your AC runs longer — using more electricity and driving higher bills.
The good news? You don’t have to ride it out unprepared.
With winter behind us and summer ahead, now is the perfect time for a Spring Energy Tune Up — a proactive check-up designed to help you stay ahead of the heat and keep bills in check.
Our Spring Energy Tune Up includes energy-saving programs, in-home energy audits, and practical solutions tailored for Florida living. A little preparation now can mean lower bills and greater comfort all year long.
Great news: The storm surcharge ends in September, lowering your electric costs.
The temporary storm surcharge will come off your electric bill in September 2026, dropping your energy costs by $19.95 per 1,000 kWh. Many customers use more than 1,000 kWh each month, so they’ll see even greater savings. The surcharge covers approximately $464 million in restoration costs after the historic 2024 hurricane season.
Your TECO Spring Tune-Up Toolkit
Budget Billing:
Our Budget Billing program is a free and easy way to take the highs and lows out of your electric bill, helping you manage your energy costs, reduce seasonal bill spikes and maintain your budget. With Budget Billing, your monthly electric bill payment is based on the average amount of your electric bills from the previous 12 months, so your payment will be about the same every month - even with seasonal weather changes. We’ll also review your account annually and periodically to adjust your monthly payment if your usage, rates or fees change.
Prime Time Plus:
Prime Time Plus is a free program that gives you monthly bill credits when you allow us to briefly cycle off the equipment you choose during the rare times when electricity demand is extremely high. For example, enrolling a heating and cooling system, water heater, pool pump and Level 2 EV charger earns you $360 per year. You choose which equipment to enroll, and the more you add, the more you save. We’ll also install a free ENERGY STAR®-certified smart thermostat. It allows you to schedule temperature settings around your routine, automatically adjust when you’re away, and reduce unnecessary runtime — helping you use less energy without sacrificing comfort.
Energy Audit:
Our free Energy Audit is a fantastic way to begin your tune up! Our certified energy experts will take a close look at your home to identify where it may be losing energy – and driving up your electric bill. During the visit, we’ll assess your heating and cooling systems, attic insulation, weather stripping and more. Based on what we find, we may recommend eligible discounts, rebates and other energy-saving solutions. If an in-home visit isn’t for you, simply log in to your TECO account to complete a convenient and free online energy audit.
Energy Planner:
Our free Energy Planner program rewards you with lower rates about 87% of the time when you plan your highest energy use for times when electricity demand is lowest. For example, doing laundry on weekends rather than weekdays results in a lower rate. You can plan your usage easily online, and we’ll install a free programmable thermostat that lets you adjust temperature settings for even more savings.
Discounts and Rebates:
Check out our discount and rebate programs for ductwork, ceiling insulation, heating and cooling systems and smart thermostats.
Neighborhood Weatherization:
Our Neighborhood Weatherization program has helped thousands of customers lower their energy costs by making their homes more energy efficient. If your home qualifies, we’ll install a variety of energy-saving items at no cost to you. Plus, one of our certified energy analysts will perform a free Energy Audit to help find additional ways to save. Qualifying customers may also receive free duct sealing and ceiling insulation.
Spring Tune-Up Tips
Air conditioning is by far the biggest reason summer can spike your electric bill. Our Florida heat regularly reaches more than 90 degrees with very high humidity. Air conditioners don’t just struggle to cool the air – they also work hard to remove moisture. That means your system runs longer and more frequently, sometimes nearly all day, for several months. And that has a major impact on your electric bill.
It’s important to know that:
- The lower you set the thermostat, the harder (and longer) your AC runs.
- High humidity makes the system run more often.
- Older or poorly maintained units use significantly more power.
Here are some significant things you can do to help stay cool while using less electricity:
- Change air-conditioning filters monthly and make sure they’re installed in the correct direction. Doing this regularly can cut cooling energy use by up to 15%.
- Leaky ducts can account for nearly 20% of an air conditioner’s energy use. Sealing and insulating ductwork helps ensure the air you’re paying to cool makes it into your living space.
- If you’re looking to reduce usage, raise your thermostat as high as you comfortably can. Every degree you cool below 78°F can increase the air-conditioning portion of your electric bill by about 7%.
- Run ceiling fans only in occupied rooms - fans cool people, not rooms.
- Service cooling systems annually and adjust for maximum efficiency.
Get more tips to prepare for summer before the heat hits!