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Ocala
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Ocala Electric Utility preparing to celebrate Public Power Week

Ocala Electric Utility is preparing to celebrate Public Power Week.

The celebration will take place Oct. 4-10, along with more than 2,000 other community-powered, not-for-profit electric utilities that collectively provide electricity to 49 million Americans.

With an increased amount of teleworking and time spent at home while social distancing this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, OEU offers a few tips on how to save energy and money while caring for the environment and keeping everyone safe.

  • Plug energy leaks with weather stripping and caulking and be sure the dwelling is properly insulated. These steps can save up to 20 percent on heating/cooling bills and ensure a more comfortable home.
  • Clean or change filters regularly. A dirty furnace or air conditioning filter will slow airflow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool.
  • Install a programmable thermostat to save up to 10 percent on cooling and heating costs.
  • Wash clothes in cold water. Heating the water in a washer uses 90 percent of the energy used to wash clothes. According to Energy Star, by switching to cold water, you can save $30-$40 every year.
  • Turn off all lights, appliances and electronics not in use. Better still, use a power strip and turn off devices and lights that are not in use to cut standby power, and save approximately $100 annually.
  • To save energy at home, replace incandescent bulbs with energy-saving lights. LED lights use up to 90 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs, while lasting up to 25 times longer.

“We know that using energy wisely to lower monthly electric bills is important to Ocala residents,” said Eric Weaver, Director of Ocala Electric Utility. “We are sharing these tips during Public Power week with the hope our community will keep an eye on energy efficiency year-round. Together, we can ‘Beat the Peak’ and help reduce the required demand for generating energy and keeping power costs affordable for our community.”

Public Power Week is an annual national observance coordinated by the American Public Power Association, the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities nationwide. The Association represents public power before the federal government to protect the interests of the more than 49 million people that public power utilities serve and the 93,000 people they employ. It advocates and advises on electricity policy, technology, trends, training and operations. Its members strengthen their communities by providing superior service, engaging citizens and instilling pride in community-owned power. Learn more at www.PublicPower.org.