PENSACOLA, Fla. – Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) is closely monitoring the extreme cold weather currently impacting northern Florida. As a result of the weather, some power outages are expected. To prepare, FPL has pre-positioned resources, including lineworkers and vegetation crews, in the areas where impacts are expected. Crews are ready to respond safely and as quickly as possible as long as weather conditions allow.  

In the meantime, customers should keep safety top of mind. Heed the warnings of emergency officials and monitor local weather forecasts.

FPL is working closely with the counties to address icing on roadways so that crews can respond to any power-related issues. Some road safety tips include:

• Dangerous driving conditions are likely. Stay off the roads until it’s deemed safe to drive. 
• When it’s deemed safe, remember that weather conditions may affect traffic signals. If you come to an intersection with a non-working traffic signal, Florida law requires that you treat it as a four-way stop.
• Watch out for emergency and power restoration crews on the road – slow down and give them space.

For anyone planning to use a space heater, please:

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and keep flammable materials and furniture as well as children, pets and water at least three feet away from space heaters to avoid fire risks or electric shocks.
• Always turn off and unplug space heaters when leaving the room.

While safety is the top priority, some customers may be concerned about the impact the severe cold weather will have on bills. Here are some ways to keep your home comfortable and save energy during this time:

• Set your thermostat to 68 degrees or lower. Every degree below 68 saves you 5% on heating costs. Heating your home can require two to three times more energy than air conditioning.
• Do not increase your thermostat setting more than two degrees at a time to prevent accidentally turning on your heating system’s auxiliary heating. Using auxiliary heat for more than 12 hours a day can add up to $15 per day on your energy bill.
• Use electric blankets or space heaters to keep you warm in small areas. Using a space heater for 12 hours costs approximately $3 per day.

As the severe weather continues to move through, always stay clear of any downed power lines and damaged equipment, and report power outages in the FPL Mobile App.