JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With “feels-like” temperatures hitting the triple digits across Northeast Florida, JEA shared tips for customers on conserving energy and water to manage costs this summer.
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Here are some tips from JEA that could help customers save money during the hottest months of the year:
Air conditioning
- Air conditioning and heating systems consume about 40 – 60% of all the electricity customers use, according to JEA. Set your thermostat at 78°F in summer, 5° to 10° higher when you leave the house.
- Change your heating and cooling system air filter every month. A dirty air filter makes your system work harder, which uses more energy.
- Run ceiling or table fans when possible, instead of lowering the air conditioning thermostat. Fans can help make it feel 2 to 3 degrees cooler. Turn them off when you leave the room.
- Shade windows that receive direct sunlight to help keep rooms cooler.
Other changes that make a difference
- Avoid going in and out of the home repeatedly to keep cool air in and hot air out.
- Use the washer with full loads using cold water.
- Try grilling outside, using the microwave or cooking with a Crockpot or InstantPot instead of the stove or oven. Small appliances typically use less energy and keep the kitchen cool.
Water conservation tips
According to JEA, on average, 35 to 50% of water used for irrigation is wasted. Here are some tips on conserving water and saving money on your water bill.
- Inspect sprinkler heads: A broken one can waste 25,000 gallons of water in six months.
- Connect pipes and hoses: A small leak can waste up to 6,300 gallons of water a month.
- Direct spray to your landscape, not your sidewalk.
- Follow watering days as mandated by St. Johns River Water Management District. Learn about watering day restrictions.
- Order a free JEA Water Conservation Kit for water-saving products that will help you save up to $75 a year on your water bill. Order at: http://jea.com/waterkit
Billing options
JEA offers a variety of billing and payment options for its customers, including payment assistance. Those options include:
- MyBudget: This levelized billing program averages your past usage so your bill is about the same each month. Click here to learn more
- Monitor usage: Customers can monitor their daily electric usage through their account on JEA.com. Also, customers can receive alerts via text or email when usage has reached a certain dollar, electric (kWh) or water (gal) amount. Register for alerts here
- Payment extensions: For those customers who need a little extra time to pay their bills. Click here to learn more
- Payment arrangements: For when customers need to pay their balance due over a longer period of time with installments. Click here to learn more
- Access to community resources: JEA can point the way to third-party groups that offer utility bill assistance.
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JEA also offers free in-home assessments to help customers conserve energy and reduce water use to ultimately lower their utility bills. Energy auditors conduct walk-through inspections of homes to determine some changes that could help reduce energy costs.
To schedule a free energy or irrigation assessment, customers can call 904-665-6000.
For more tips on how to save on your utility bill this summer visit this website.