LAND O' LAKES, Fla — Electric bills can make or break your budget, and here in Florida, you're paying more than most of the country to power your home and keep it cool.
The average monthly bill for Floridians is just under $155; That's $20 more than the national average. With many looking to save as temps start turning up, Duke Energy is reminding their customers with a simple check and a few tips, there is a way to lower your costs.
“For a lot of folks it's a surprise to them,” Gordon Appleton, a senior energy advisor with Duke Energy, said. “Cooling costs in Florida is 50% of [a customer’s] electric bill."
Appleton walked 10 Tampa Bay through Duke’s “Home Energy Check,” which customers can complete to qualify for up to $1,700 in rebates to make energy-efficient improvements.
The free assessment can be done online, on the phone or in person, and it details a home’s energy usage and where some money may be slipping through the cracks.
You’ll also likely learn a thing or two, like changing a roughly $15 air filter more frequently could save you more than that every month.
"Easily 10% off your bill,” Appleton said. “It seems like a small simple thing, but it really has an impact on your bill,”
The in-home check can include looking at the water heater, identifying leaks using a pressurized door test and checking the ductwork, where they often find gaps, especially in older homes.
“If you can seal those ducts really well. It'll bring your [AC] runtime down, which brings your electric bill down,” Bill Snyder, a senior program inspector with Duke Energy, said. Snyder says a simple sealant could be the answer.
Crews also use infrared technology to see where your home’s attic could be lacking. Insulation plays an important role in keeping an air-conditioned home cold.
They can also recommend bigger fixes like adding insulation, buying a more efficient HVAC unit and even installing new windows, which could cost more upfront, but will save you money months down the road. After completing an energy check customers could qualify for rebates for that work.
To schedule a home energy check, or see other energy-saving tips, click here.