JEA Offers Tips in Advance of Severe Cold Weather

2022-12-20

JACKSONVILLE – An arctic cold front is expected to arrive in Northeast Florida later this week, bringing extended severe cold weather to JEA customers starting Friday.

Keep in mind that cold weather can impact utility services. Extended severe cold temperatures can tax the electric infrastructure, and icy conditions can freeze water pipes and service lines. JEA teams have prepared for the weather by winterizing our generation fleet, with teams prepared and ready to restore utility services if needed.

Here are some helpful tips for protecting homes and businesses during the cold:

• Avoid rapid swings in thermostat settings. They could turn on your system’s auxiliary heating or heat strips, which can be costly to run. Watch this video to learn more.
• Conserve electricity wherever possible.
• Drip outside faucets about 5 drips per minute.
• Let water drip slowly from inside faucets.
• If a washing machine is in an unheated room such as a garage, disconnect both the hot and cold water lines. Place both in the drain pipe behind the washing machine. Drip both faucets at about 5 drips per minute.
• Wrap any exposed pipes and backflow preventers located outside or in unheated areas.
• Know the locations of water shutoff valves and sewer clean-outs.
• If you’re going away for the holidays, shut off water at the water shutoff valve. Leave heating on a low setting and open cabinet doors under sinks.

JEA offers a variety of billing and payment options for residential and business customers, including:

• JEA Utility Tracker: Helps customers track their daily electric and water consumption and provides savings tips specific to their homes. Using Tracker, customers can learn which appliances use the most energy or water, so they can make better decisions, conserve where needed and better manage utility costs. Learn more at jea.com/tracker.
• Payment Arrangements: For when customers need to pay their balance due over a longer period of time with installments. Learn more
• Access to Community Resources: We can point the way to third-party groups that offer utility bill assistance. Learn more

Find more cold weather tips at jea.com/winter. To report an electric or water outage, visit jea.com/outage or call (904) 665-6000.

About JEA

JEA is a not-for-profit, community-owned utility located in Jacksonville, Florida, proudly serving an estimated 505,000 electric, 382,000 water, 302,000 sewer and 22,000 reclaimed water customers. JEA is not owned by investors. It was created by the City of Jacksonville to serve those who live in Jacksonville and in the surrounding communities. The sole purpose of JEA’s business is to ensure the electric, water and sewer demands of its customers are met, both today and for generations to come with the goal to provide reliable services at the best value to our customers while ensuring our precious natural resources are protected.

Media Contact

Simone Garvey-Ewan
JEA Media Relations
media@jea.com | 904-665-5500

Category:

• conservation
• customer
• electric
• storm
• water