JUNO BEACH, Fla., June 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Summer is here, and so is Florida's hot weather, which can mean higher- than-normal electric bills. As the days get longer and hotter, air conditioners need to run longer to keep things cool. In fact, A/C units can run up to twice as long in the summer as compared to cooler months, accounting for more than half of the electric bill.

"There is a seasonal difference in customer bills. Summer bills are always higher because we're all using more electricity," said FPL Energy Expert, Tiffany Spence. "Not only is the sun out in full force, but the kids are out of school and guests are coming to town. There is a lot of activity in our homes." 

While Florida Power & Light customers already have typical bills that are the lowest in the state and 30 percent below the national average, there are easy ways to help make them even lower. So before firing up the fireworks this July 4^th holiday, try these seven tips to help save energy and money:

1. Go outside: Cook using an outdoor grill instead of the oven to keep the kitchen cool.
2. Use smaller appliances: If cooking inside, do it with a toaster oven, microwave or crock pot. These smaller appliances use less energy than the oven and add less heat to the kitchen.
3. Consider cold snacks: When it's hot outside, a cold alternative such as sandwiches, vegetables or fruit make for delicious snacks without having to use the oven.
4. Grab in bulk: Reduce the amount of cold air escaping from the fridge by opening the door once to get all necessary items.
5. Fill it up: Run the dishwasher with a full load and use the air dry option, if available.
6. Turn it off: When leaving to watch a parade or fireworks, remember to turn off lights and fans. Fans only keep people cool, not rooms, so if you're not at home, there's no reason to run them.
7. Turn it up: Turn the thermostat up to 82 degrees or higher if you're traveling for the long weekend. And remember to close window blinds and shades to block out the sun's heat.

"Whether you're having friends over for the holiday weekend or traveling, our energy saving tips and our online home energy survey can help customers keep their bills in check during the hottest months," said Spence.

Visit FPL.com/easytosave to take FPL's Online Home Energy Survey and use the Energy Dashboard to learn how to save up to $250 a year.

Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is the third-largest electric utility in the United States, serving approximately 4.8 million customer accounts across nearly half of the state of Florida. FPL's typical 1,000-kWh residential customer bill is approximately 30 percent lower than the latest national average and, in 2014, was the lowest in Florida among reporting utilities for the fifth year in a row. FPL's service reliability is better than 99.98 percent, and its highly fuel-efficient power plant fleet is one of the cleanest among all utilities nationwide. The company was recognized in 2014 as the most trusted U.S. electric utility by Market Strategies International, and has earned the national ServiceOne Award for outstanding customer service for an unprecedented 10 consecutive years. A leading Florida employer with approximately 8,700 employees, FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla.-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), a clean energy company widely recognized for its efforts in sustainability, ethics and diversity, including being ranked in the top 10 worldwide for innovativeness and community responsibility as part of Fortune's 2015 list of "World's Most Admired Companies." NextEra Energy is also the parent company of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun. For more information, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.

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SOURCE Florida Power & Light Company