Tips to Help JEA Customers Save During High Heat

With Northeast Florida temperatures forecast to rise into the 90s today and throughout the week, JEA is reminding customers of ways to conserve energy and water. JEA offers a variety of programs and tools to help customers save money during the summer months.

Below are some tips from JEA on managing costs during hot days:

Small Changes that Make a Big Impact

• 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.

 Get more tips from JEA’s Ways to Save section: jea.com/save.

Air Conditioning

• Set the thermostat at 78 – 80 degrees in the summer, higher when you are not home. A five-degree shift can save you 6 – 8 percent per degree in the summer.

• Use insulated drapes, blinds, or shades on your windows and close them during the hottest part of the day. Efficient use of window shading can save you up to 12 percent on the cooling portion of your utility bill in the summer.

• Seal leaks in the cooling ducts. Don’t forget the leaks around the air handler unit. Sealing leaks in ductwork can save you 1 – 30 percent on the cooling portion of your utility bill, based upon the size of the leak.

• Weather strip doors and windows. Repair or replace broken or cracked windows. Weather stripping windows and doors can save you up to 8 percent on the cooling portion of your utility bill.

• Install a programmable thermostat. Using a programmable thermostat can save 5 – 15 percent on the cooling portion of your utility bill.

Water Conservation Tips

Here are five tips for conserving water and saving money on your water bill:

• Water leaks, especially in running toilets, are the No. 1 reason customers see their consumption increase. Identify and fix any running toilets.

Get two toilet leak tablets in a free JEA Water Conservation Kit.

• Inspect sprinkler heads. A broken one can waste 25,000 gallons of water in six months.

• Direct spray to your yard, not your sidewalk.

Assessments

• JEA provides free in-home assessments to help customers conserve energy and reduce water use and thus reduce their JEA bills.  Energy auditors conduct walk-through inspections of homes to determine whether behavioral changes and/or new equipment can help reduce energy costs.

• To schedule a free energy or irrigation assessment, customers can call 904-665-6000.

Billing

JEA offers a variety of billing and payment options for our residential and business customers, including payment assistance. Our options include:

• MyBudget: This levelized billing program averages your past usage so your bill is about the same each month. Learn more about MyBudget

• Monitor usage: Customers can monitor their daily electric usage through their account on JEA.com or on the My JEA app. This way, customers can make decisions about conservation if they see usage increasing.

• Payment Assistance: For those customers who need extra help, JEA offers extensions and arrangements and can point the way to third-party groups that offer utility bill assistance. Jea.com/assistance