Florida PSC Consumer Tips

Consumer Tip for 6/14/2010

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Consumer Tip for 6/14/2010

Eliminate Hurricane Preparation Hassles
Description: Don’t you hate fighting the crowds at the store when a hurricane threatens? Preparing before severe weather strikes can alleviate a lot of stress.
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Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Consumer Tip for 3/15/2010

Save Money During Spring Break
Description: The pleasant spring days between winter's chill and summer's heat are ideal for cleaning the home heating and cooling system. More than half of the average home's utility bill is spent on air conditioning and heating so a little spring cleaning can save a lot of money.
To make your home more efficient adopt a whole house approach. The system must be working properly so that outside air is not coming into the house and inside air is not escaping out.
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Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Consumer Tip for 11/23/2009

What is a Smart Meter?
Description: Florida is a national leader in the installation of smart meters in residential neighborhoods. What is a smart meter and what does it mean for you? The new smart meters - also known as advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) — help utility customers monitor their energy usage and increase the utility’s ability to identify and correct service issues through a sophisticated, interactive communications network. AMI is a key step toward future smart electricity grids, which are needed to make the electric system more efficient by better matching electricity production to use. AMI will also allow the system to integrate renewable energy from the sun, wind, and other sources and to route power around disruptions and congestion.
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Mon, 11 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Consumer Tip for 5/11/2009

Hurricane Survival Kit
Description: Ana, Bill, and Claudette are the first names on this year's Atlantic hurricane list. Max Mayfield, Director of the National Hurricane Center from 2000 to 2007, gave this perspective on hurricanes: "History teaches us that we are going to have hurricanes. There's nothing we can do about that. But there is something we can do, and that is to prepare for the hurricane. If you can see the devastation after a hurricane, and talk to some of the people that have experienced it, I'll guarantee you that will be motivation enough to create your individual hurricane plan."
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Mon, 29 Dec 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Consumer Tip for 12/29/2008

Save Money With a Clean Air Filter
Description: Changing your home's air filter is a simple job that only takes a few minutes and usually requires few, if any, tools. Filters should be replaced monthly for greatest efficiency and effectiveness. It's a good idea to purchase several filters at one time so you don't have to make a special trip to the store each month to buy a new filter. Make it a habit to change the filter each month when you pay your utility bill.
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Mon, 01 Dec 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Consumer Tip for 12/1/2008

Have a Green Holiday With LED Lights
Description: When you trim your tree this year, trim your electric bill at the same time by replacing the old incandescent light strings with Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights. LED lights have been around for several years but, until recently, were only available in red. Early versions of the lights were also dim. Recent developments in LED lighting have produced brighter lights in a variety of colors.
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Mon, 18 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Consumer Tip for 8/18/2008

Post Hurricane Safety
Description: Restoring Electric Service - After a hurricane or tropical storm has passed, utilities follow an efficient process to first restore electric service to facilities that serve the largest number of customers. The first restoration priority is to repair damage to utility equipment and facilities that produce electricity and to the lines that carry it from the power plants to the communities. The second priority is to restore power to essential services that maintain community order and safety: hospitals, police and fire stations, and radio and television stations. Next, facilities that provide service to the greatest number of customers in the least amount of time are repaired. Once the major repairs are completed, utilities begin work to restore small groups of customers and individual customers.
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Sun, 20 Jan 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Consumer Tip for 1/20/2008

Our Trees and Our Utilities
Description: We Floridians love our trees. From the live oaks of the Panhandle to the royal palms of South Florida, our trees provide shade, fruit, and beauty. Trees help cool our homes, increase our property values, conserve water, control erosion, and provide food and shelter for wildlife. While we love our trees, we also love reliable electric and telephone service. Sometimes our beloved trees interfere with the lines that provide the utility services necessary to modern life. Maintaining the balance between healthy, attractive trees and reliable utility service is the cooperative duty of both the property owner and the utility company.
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Sun, 18 Nov 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Consumer Tip for 11/18/2007

Water Wiser: Low-Flow Toilets
Description: If you have installed a new toilet within the last 12 years, you have a "low-flow" toilet. Federal law requires that any residential toilet manufactured after January 1, 1994 must use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf). Earlier toilets used 5 to 7 gpf. Low-flow toilets save water, so you save money on your water and wastewater bill and help conserve Florida's precious water supply.
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Sun, 29 Jul 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Consumer Tip for 7/29/2007

Prepaid Phone Cards: Be An Educated Consumer
Description: Wow!! One cent per minute for a long distance call! That's a pretty good rate, isn't it? Well, maybe.... Prepaid calling cards can be a great way to save money on toll calls, especially when you are away from home. It's a good idea to keep one with you in case you need to make a toll call and you don't want to make a collect call, or you want to avoid the higher rates charged by some company-issued cards. Be careful, though. The advertised per-minute rate may not tell the whole story of what the call will cost. Read the fine print before you buy the card and be sure you understand exactly what the calls will cost. In the case of this one cent per minute card, there is a 49 cents connection fee for each call you make. A one minute call will cost 50 cents.
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