Duke Energy requested that customers across Florida voluntarily reduce electricity use for 4 hours on Monday morning as cold temperatures drove power demand above normal levels.

The voluntary conservation period ran from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. The company said the effort helped support the electric grid during one of the coldest mornings of the season.

Duke Energy explained that the request was related to how power systems operate regionally. The electric grid is interconnected throughout Florida and across the Southeast, allowing utility companies to share energy and support one another during periods of extreme demand. Conserving power on Monday morning helped ensure maximum megawatts were available if neighboring systems needed assistance.

During the conservation window, Duke recommended customers lower thermostats to the lowest comfortable setting, unplug unused devices and avoid using major appliances like washers, dryers and dishwashers.

A Duke Energy spokesperson told FOX 13 the company does not anticipate making additional conservation requests in the coming days, despite continued cold temperatures.

The company noted heating systems account for about 30% of an electric bill, making them the largest energy expense, followed by water heaters. Energy costs are also affected by the gap between thermostat settings and outdoor temperatures. When the outside temperature is 40 degrees, and a thermostat is set to 70, the heating system must run continuously to maintain that difference.

Duke Energy spokesperson Ana Gibbs said energy bills can be equally expensive during extreme heat or cold, depending on thermostat settings.

The company’s highest recorded peak demand occurred in January 2010, when energy usage reached approximately 10,800 megawatts.

Duke Energy offers tools to help customers monitor and manage costs, including mid-cycle usage alerts that estimate energy use and predict bills before they arrive. The company also provides programs like EnergyWise, which can provide bill credits while helping reduce strain on the grid.

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