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Why High Energy Bills in Florida?
Have you noticed lately that your monthly energy bills have shot up in price? There’s a reason for that. According to the Tampa Bay Times, Florida residents have experienced a dramatic increase in energy costs over the past few years. In fact, in 2023, energy bills in Florida (especially Southern Florida) were the fourth-highest in the entire nation, as customers paid an average of $168 per month, 18% higher than the national average of $142.
Reasons for Natural Gas Price Volatility
Between 2020 and 2022, the price of U.S. natural gas more than doubled. Although several factors contributed to this issue, turbulent natural gas prices have tremendously impacted energy costs.
The price of natural gas has been volatile for a few reasons:
- Supply and demand concerns have been the primary drivers. Production disruptions, such as extreme weather events or geopolitical tensions (such as Russia invading Ukraine), have also occurred worldwide.
- Demand fluctuations can also be influenced by seasonal changes, the overall economy, and changes in domestic and international energy policies.
- Natural gas's storage levels can enormously impact its trading price, and investors often get scared off by such volatility. In short, it’s complicated.
Hope on the Horizon: Potential Price Stabilization
It is worth noting that today in 2024, the price of gas has begun stabilizing, despite external factors rearing their ugly heads. For example, a natural gas export facility in Texas was forced to shut down due to a massive fire. Many gas companies believe the blame should also be placed on utility companies. Utility companies, however, blame inflation, increased labor costs, and interest rates. Regardless, these costs are starting to settle a bit. While there’s certainly no guarantee of future turbulence, consumers can take control in a few ways.
How You Can Take Control of Your Energy Bills in Florida
- Set your thermostat right: Every degree you bump up your thermostat while you're home can save you 3-5% on your monthly cooling costs. It’s recommended to set it between 75°F and 78°F. Since cooling makes up about 60% of your bill, this can make a significant difference.
- Plug into smart power strips: Plug electronics and appliances into smart power strips that automatically cut off power when not in use. This eliminates what is known as "phantom energy drain" from devices on standby mode.
- Regularly replace your air filter: This ensures cleaner air for you and keeps your HVAC system running efficiently, saving you money on your energy bill. Looking for the right filter? Filterbuy has handy guides to help you choose and carries every size in stock, even custom.
- Upgrade to energy-efficient appliances: When replacing old appliances, choose models with Energy Star certification. These appliances are rigorously tested to use less energy while maintaining performance.
- Service your HVAC: If you live in hot and humid Florida, a quick tip for keeping your energy costs down is to get your HVAC system serviced.
Regularly servicing your HVAC (a service that Filterbuy offers!) can greatly improve your unit’s efficiency. Doing this ensures the best performance possible, thanks to cleaning and maintaining vital parts of your system, such as filters, coils, and motors. This ultimately reduces your energy consumption. Your technician will also calibrate and adjust your system’s settings so you can maximize efficiency while minimizing energy waste. By addressing these minor issues, you will get ahead of any problems escalating into major, more expensive malfunctions.
Here are more ways you can reduce your energy bills in Florida.
Benefits of Regular HVAC Maintenance
- Improved airflow and temperature regulation
- Enhanced home comfort
- Lower energy bills
- Reduced environmental footprint
Receiving higher-than-expected energy bills can be stressful, but there are ways you can take control of some aspects of this situation. With proper maintenance, your system will experience improved airflow and temperature regulation, thus enhancing the comfort of your home—and your budget. Ultimately, regular maintenance translates into lower energy bills and a reduced environmental footprint. We consider this a win-win.
