Blountstown Residents are Encouraged to Stay Warm, Safe, and Energy Wise During the Cold Weekend Ahead

Bundle up, Blountstown! Already low temperatures are set to dip deeper into freezing in North Florida this weekend due to a powerful Artic front that is set to blast through our region starting Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service. Strong winds are also in the forecast, which could push the feel-like temperature even lower.

Prolonged cold, like is currently being experienced, increases the amount of energy necessary to heat homes and businesses.

Customers are encouraged to be mindful of energy use during peak hours, which is generally considered 6am - 9am and 6pm - 9pm. Taking proactive steps to manage utility consumption will help reduce the system's load, and more importantly, reduce the shock of a higher-than-expected bill.

Some energy and cost saving tips include:

Set your thermostat at 68 degrees or lower and set fan to "auto"
Use blankets and warm clothing to stay warm
Increase thermostat gradually, only one degree at a time, to avoid activating auxiliary or emergency heat
Open blinds during the day to let in warm sunshine and close blinds at night to keep the cold air out
Keep garage doors closed to maintain indoor heat
Reduce the use of hot water and and the use of large appliances that require lots of hot water (dishwashers & washing machines) during peak hours

Stay Safe

Keep space heaters off carpet, walls, and furniture
Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet to reduce overheating and fire risk from extension cords and power strips
Turn off and unplug when not in use
Never use your stove, oven, propane heater, or grill to heat your home
Cover exposed water pipes and spigots
To prevent pipes from freezing, allow a trickle of water to flow through your faucets