FLURRIES HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. THAT’S JUST A FEW MINUTES. >> THANKS, SARAH. AMID THE INTENSE WEATHER CONDITIONS TONIGHT, THOUSANDS IN CAPE CORAL HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH POWER OUTAGES. GULF COAST NEWS REPORTER NAYLOR GRAND PIER HAS BEEN HEARING FROM NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE HAD TO FACE THE REALITY THAT THEY MAY BE LEFT IN THE COLD AND DARK TONIGHT. >> NEIGHBORS HERE ALONG SOUTHWEST 17TH AVENUE. CAPE CORAL SAY THEY’VE BEEN LEFT IN THE COLD AND THE DARK DUE TO POWER OUTAGES. AND SEE ISIS. AS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS WE COULD BE HITTING A RECORD WITH WINTER ENERGY USAGE. CLEARLY WE’RE GOING TO BE CONSERVING BECAUSE WE HAVE NO ELECTRICITY. >> SO, YOU KNOW, 100% AND SERVING OVER HERE, SEE EASY TELLS ME AS THIS RECORD APPROACHES NEAR REMIND YOU TO CONSERVE ENERGY AS IT GETS COLDER, FLORIDA IS GOING TO REACH AN ALL TIME. >> PEAK AND ENERGY USAGE THIS WINTER. >> THAT THEY HAVE SEEN AND >> FLORIDIANS ARE JUST NOT USED TO THIS KIND OF WEATHER. AND SO YOUR INITIAL REACTION IS TO TURN ON YOUR HEATER AND HEATING YOUR HOME USES 4 TIMES MORE ENERGY THAN COOLING AND ACTUALLY COST 3 TIMES MORE TO HEAT YOUR HOME THAN TO COOL IT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2010 WERE EXPECTED TO HIT A WINTER PEAK ENERGY USE OF OVER 1100 MEGAWATTS MONDAY. THAT’S ALMOST 500 MORE THAN THIS TIME LAST YEAR. >> CDC IS REMINDING YOU NOT TO TURN ON YOUR THERMOSTAT PAST. 68 DEGREES. REDUCE THE USE OF LARGE APPLIANCES AND BUNDLE UP. IF YOU CAN’T PREVENT LARGE. FRED OUTAGES LIKE WE SAW TODAY IN CAPE CORAL, WHICH HAD MORE THAN 1500 OUTAGES THAT EVERYBODY ELSE WILL CONTRIBUTE IN THEIR WAY AS WELL. THAT. >> TO EASE THE BURDEN ON THE POWER GRID. SO SO WE GET THROUGH THIS, YOU KNOW, SAFELY AS WELL NOT AFFECT US TOO MUCH ON THE BILL. >> YOU CAN TRACK YOUR ENERGY USAGE ON THE LCE SEE SITE OR ON THE SMAR
Winter energy use expected to hit record-breaking peaks in Florida
The Lee County Electric Cooperative is urging customers to conserve energy with temperatures dropping across the Gulf Coast, and many homes cranking up heat.
Updated: 9:53 AM EST Feb 1, 2026
Residents in Cape Coral dealt with power outages Saturday night as Florida’s energy use is expected to reach record levels this winter due to colder temperatures and increased heating demands.Igor Liezerovich, a Cape Coral resident, said, “Well, clearly we’re going to be conserving because we have no electricity. So, you know, 100% conserving over here.”The Lee County Electric Cooperative (LCEC) reports that Florida’s energy use is hitting a record, likely because of the colder weather and more people turning on their heat.Shannon Williamson from LCEC explained, “Florida is going to reach an all-time peak in energy usage this winter that they have seen. Floridians are just not used to this kind of weather. Your initial reaction is to turn on your heater. Heating your home uses four times more energy than cooling, and it actually costs three times more to heat your home than to cool it.”For the first time since 2010, Florida is expected to hit a winter peak energy use of over 1,100 megawatts on Monday, which is almost 500 more than this time last year. LCEC is reminding residents to keep their thermostats below 68 degrees, reduce the use of large appliances, and bundle up to prevent widespread outages like those seen in Cape Coral, where thousands of outages were reported.Joe Noa, another Cape Coral resident, said, “We hope that everybody else will contribute in their way as well. That to ease the burden on the power grid so that we all can get through this safely, as well as not affect us too much on the bill.”You can track your energy use on the LCEC site or SmartHub app. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
Residents in Cape Coral dealt with power outages Saturday night as Florida’s energy use is expected to reach record levels this winter due to colder temperatures and increased heating demands.
Igor Liezerovich, a Cape Coral resident, said, “Well, clearly we’re going to be conserving because we have no electricity. So, you know, 100% conserving over here.”
The Lee County Electric Cooperative (LCEC) reports that Florida’s energy use is hitting a record, likely because of the colder weather and more people turning on their heat.
Shannon Williamson from LCEC explained, “Florida is going to reach an all-time peak in energy usage this winter that they have seen. Floridians are just not used to this kind of weather. Your initial reaction is to turn on your heater. Heating your home uses four times more energy than cooling, and it actually costs three times more to heat your home than to cool it.”
For the first time since 2010, Florida is expected to hit a winter peak energy use of over 1,100 megawatts on Monday, which is almost 500 more than this time last year. LCEC is reminding residents to keep their thermostats below 68 degrees, reduce the use of large appliances, and bundle up to prevent widespread outages like those seen in Cape Coral, where thousands of outages were reported.
Joe Noa, another Cape Coral resident, said, “We hope that everybody else will contribute in their way as well. That to ease the burden on the power grid so that we all can get through this safely, as well as not affect us too much on the bill.”
You can track your energy use on the LCEC site or SmartHub app.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.