Summer weather has begun, bringing higher temperatures – and higher power bills. Tampa Electric is offering tips and help to customers during this season.
Tampa Electric understands that higher electric bills can be a hardship for some customers. To help, the company offers a variety of options to assist with bill payments:
- Funding is available through FloridaCommerce to help income-qualified customers with energy bills. Customers may be eligible for assistance from the Low-Income Household Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) depending on household income or participation in other state benefit programs. To be considered for assistance, visit TampaElectric.com/Consent25 for details. Funding is available for a limited time.
- TECO’s Share program provides utility bill assistance to customers who qualify. Share is administered by third-party charitable organizations.
- Budget Billing is designed to help manage energy costs, reduce seasonal bill shocks and maintain a budget with predictable monthly payments.
- Due Date Plus assists residential customers on a fixed income or whose Social Security, retirement, disability or other support payment is received on a date that doesn’t coincide with their utility bill due date.
- If you or someone you know needs financial help, please visit TampaElectric.com/PayAssist for more information about these and other assistance programs.
Tampa Electric would like to remind customers that several factors contribute to higher summer bills, including the weather, energy use and daily routines, and a home’s energy efficiency. Here are some quick tips that can help customers start saving now:
- Run ceiling fans only in occupied rooms – fans cool people, not rooms.
- Inspect and/or change air-conditioning filters monthly and ensure they are installed in the correct direction. Look for directional arrows on the side of the filter.
- Service cooling systems annually and adjust for maximum efficiency.
One of the most significant contributors to a summer electric bill is air conditioning (A/C). The hotter it is outside, the harder the A/C is working, and the more it costs. An A/C system runs longer and harder as the difference between the outdoor temperature and the thermostat setting becomes greater. In summer, every degree you raise your thermostat from its current setting could save you about 7 percent on your cooling costs.
Tampa Electric offers nearly 30 energy-saving programs that can help lower customers’ energy costs:
- Complete an Online Energy Audit for personalized insights and recommendations on energy usage.
- Participate in Energy Planner, which offers lower rates, or Prime Time Plus, which offers monthly bill credits. Select the program that’s right for you.
- Take advantage of rebates on smart thermostats, ceiling insulation and more.
- Learn more about these and other energy-saving programs at TampaElectric.com/Save.
Tampa Electric, one of Florida’s largest investor-owned electric utilities, serves about 860,000 customers in West Central Florida. Tampa Electric is a subsidiary of Emera Inc., a geographically diverse energy and services company headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
