KISSIMMEE, Fla., May 28, 2019 – Kissimmee residents used more electricity Tuesday than at any other time in the utility’s 118-year history, thanks to scorching temperatures and triple-digit heat indexes that had air conditioners working overtime.
Kissimmee Utility Authority recorded an instantaneous system peak of 380.8 megawatts (MW) at 5:13 p.m. Tuesday, eclipsing the previous record of 374.5 MW set on August 8, 2018.
KUA offers the following energy-saving tips that require little or no expense and can help to reduce summertime energy costs:
- Set the thermostat on the highest comfortable setting (KUA recommends 78-80 degrees). Raising the temperature just two degrees can reduce cooling costs by as much as five percent.
- Change or clean air conditioner filters monthly. Dirty filters can increase operating costs by 20 percent.
- Use ceiling and portable fans to keep air moving. Fans only use about as much energy as a light bulb.
- Close blinds, drapes and shades during the hottest part of the day. This keeps the sun’s rays from heating a house.
Founded in 1901, KUA is Florida’s sixth largest community-owned utility powering 76,000 customers in Osceola County, Fla. For more information, visit http://kua.com.