Latest news with #BiancaSoriano
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Climate
- Miami Herald
What happens if your power goes out in a storm? FPL has some advice
Will your power zap off during a summer storm? Now that hurricane season is here, Florida Light & Power says now is the time to double down on preparations, including what to know about the utility's work and what happens in a power outage. Conlan Kennedy, Bianca Soriano and Jack Eble of FPL's communications team sat down with the Miami Herald in early June and offered advice for this Q&A: MORE: Can you lower your FPL bill this summer? How to set your AC and other tips What should customers be doing right now, before a hurricane hits? Have a plan. That will make sure you're ready to make the best decisions for you and your family. Make sure you have checked batteries, radios and flashlights. Have phone chargers available, including a car charger. What about generators? If you're planning to use a generator, now would be the time to make sure you fully understand how to operate that equipment safely in your home. FPL can visit your home or business to help you with that. Do you have a loved one that has medically sensitive equipment that requires electricity? What's your plan for that person whether back-up power or relocation? What has FPL done year-round to prepare for storms? We have a smart grid that we're upgrading all year. It help us speed up the restoration process. In 2024 — for hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton — it helped customers avoid more than 800,000 outages. We've been investing in smart grids since 2011. It helps improve our day-to-day reliability. How does the smart grid work? Smart switches can go on main lines or neighborhood power lines. With smart meters, the meters communicate with devices on the grid which communicate with mobile diagnostic centers throughout the state. The grid is communicating with itself. We no longer have to go house to house throughout the state. Is there anything consumers can do to reduce the probability of a power outage? That's the reason we invest year round in the grid. When storms come, we emphasize safety. If you feel your home is susceptible through your roof or window, we advise you unplug any unnecessary equipment, and in some cases turn off the breaker. Never plug in anything if standing water is in your house. If you see damaged electrical equipment or a downed power line after the storm, you can call 911 and then FPL. Stay away from flooded areas. What else should people be aware as a storm threatens? Before the storm, you'll see mini-cities where crews are set up, staging sites. These are areas we believe will see the hardest impact from the storm. When a storm passes and conditions are safe, crews cans spring right into action. As long as wind speeds are below 35 mph, we can safely restore power. We can begin restoration process even before a storm makes landfall. How soon will customers know about getting back their power? FPL will provide initial estimate time of restoration for all customers affected roughly 24 hours after a storm has cleared the area. This allows damage assessment teams to sweep the area and provide valuable information to restoration crews. How do you prioritize whose power to restore? We start with critical infrastructure like hospitals and 911 call centers. Then community essentials like grocery stores and gas stations. Meanwhile, households are automatically getting their electricity back. Then, going house-by-house in the hard-hit neighborhoods. If everybody else around you has power and you don't, that means it's customer-owned equipment that's damaged. That would be a time to give us a call What are other FPL resources during hurricane season? FPL has the following additional information online: ▪ Storm Center: ▪ Tips for businesses: ▪ Tips for homes: ▪ Power Tracker: ▪ FPL social media: The utility is on Facebook, X, YouTube and Instagram. It also has tools in the App Store or Google Play, or by texting the word 'App' to MyFPL (69375).
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Climate
- Miami Herald
Can you lower your FPL bill this summer? How to set your AC and other tips
Summer is starting. That means the annual season of higher electricity bills is upon us. Is there any way to avoid that? Overall trends aren't helping. Last year was the fifth-warmest year in Florida history, going back to 1895, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. This summer, AccuWeather estimates one to two degrees above average temperatures. Those of us who stay in town the next three months will get to know our air conditioners. But don't sweat. You can do several things to save money on your bills. Cooling costs can make up to 60% of your energy bill. The Miami Herald spoke to people at Florida Power & Light to get some tips on how to lower those expenses. Air conditioner/thermostat First, make sure your air conditioner has had maintenance. 'It's super essential,' said Bianca Soriano, FPL communications manager. Then, what do you with it? ▪ When at home, set your thermostat between 75 and 78 degrees. ▪ When away on a trip, keep your AC on and set the thermostat at up to 82 degrees. 'Every degree you raise your thermostat, you can save 3%-5% overall on monthly cooling costs,' Soriano said. ▪ If you're taking off for a few days, set your thermostat to 80 degrees. ▪ If you're going away for more than one week, set it to 82 degrees. ▪ If you won't be back for months, set it between 78 degrees and 82 degrees. Also, consider using a dehumidifier or smart thermostat for remote adjustments. 'Don't shut off the unit because it'll be a lot of work to cool down your house when you get back,' FPL's Soriano said. AC maintenance ▪ Replace or clean your air filter to allow proper airflow and avoid extra strain. ▪ Clear leaves, dirt and debris around the outdoor unit to improve efficiency. ▪ Inspect refrigerant lines and ductwork for leaks that could cause cooling inefficiencies. ▪ Check the drain line to prevent clogs that could lead to water damage or mold growth. ▪ Schedule an AC tune-up before a long trip. Ceiling fans Reducing costs is not all about the AC and thermostat. Other tools can help. ▪ Ceiling fans can make you feel three degrees to four degrees cooler while using less energy than air conditioning. ▪ Set the fan to spin counterclockwise in the summer. ▪ Turn it off when you leave the room and that can save up to $84 per fan a year Windows ▪ Nearly 30% of unwanted heat enters through your windows. ▪ Check for drafts and seal them with caulk or weather stripping. ▪ Close your blinds or curtains during the hottest part of the day. Kitchen/Laundry ▪ Use smaller appliances — like an air fryer instead of your oven — to consume less energy and avoid raising the temperature in your home. ▪ Use cold water when washing clothes instead of hot water, and that can save up to $160 a year for a family of four. Summer Discount Program FPL has some initiatives and online tools to help you this summer. ▪ You can offer to shut off your devices for a few minutes at time of high demand. It's on-call. You can save up to $90 per year, said FPL's Soriano. Budget billing ▪ Pay the same amount every month based on the past 12 months Online tools FPL's website has a way for you to see how much energy you use each day and ways to save throughout your house. It also has an interactive game called House of Savings
