JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 We all love summer \u2014 until the power bill shows up. <\/p>\n
With the heat cranking up, I\u2019ll walk you through a few small changes that can help keep your house comfortable and bring some cool savings.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s all part of a free program offered by JEA that will look at how much energy you\u2019re using and how to save you money.<\/p>\n
I volunteered to check it out so we could share with you just how the program works.<\/p>\n
Where to start<\/p>\n
According to JEA, the first step is for you to call 904-665-6000 to schedule your free efficiency assessment<\/a>. (Click here to learn more about the program<\/a>.)<\/p>\n Before JEA\u2019s representatives come to your home, they will check out your utility consumption based on your bills, so they know where to start in your home.<\/p>\n When Kelly Cox and Luke Byous, senior meter specialists with JEA, came over to my house, they started with my thermostat and air vents. <\/p>\n \u201cTypically, you want to see this set to 78,\u201d Cox said, pointing at my thermostat control. \u201cThat\u2019s what we recommend.\u201d<\/p>\n Cox pointed out that my thermostat was set to 76, but the temperature in the room was reading as 78. That means my A\/C was working to lower the temperature, but if I\u2019d had it set at 78, the unit wouldn\u2019t be costing me energy.<\/p>\n Also, the specialists said to make sure the fan is set to AUTO, not ON, or it will run all day and drive up your bill.<\/p>\n Temperature split<\/p>\n Cox said JEA\u2019s specialists check something called the temperature split. <\/p>\n First, they measure the temperature at the \u201creturn\u201d vent, which should match the air temperature showing on your thermostat. Next, they check the supply vent temperature.<\/p>\n Cox said a typical \u201ctemperature split\u201d should be 15 to 20 degrees. My return was at 76 degrees, and my supply was at 62\/61 degrees, which puts my split just in that normal range.<\/p>\n So what would be a bad temperature split? Cox said lower numbers, like a 5 to 6 degree difference, can be a sign of a problem, like a heat strip issue.<\/p>\n Think of a heat strip like a toaster oven. Those hot coils can get stuck on and fight the A\/C cooling process in the summer. <\/p>\n Lowering your load<\/p>\n JEA can check the load on your meter. If your system is pulling way more power than it should, that\u2019s a red flag.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat the meter does is that it tells you what the load is in the house,\u201d Byous said.<\/p>\n So how can you lower the load?<\/p>\n Block the sun<\/p>\n One easy fix is to block heat before it gets inside by closing blinds or curtains, especially on south and west-facing windows during peak sun.<\/p>\n \u201cBlock that sunlight from coming into your air conditioned area,\u201d said Byous. <\/p>\n Fix toilet leaks<\/p>\n Sometimes the culprit of a higher JEA bill could be a leaky toilet, which could lead to hundreds of dollars more in one month. <\/p>\n So be sure to check for and fix any leaks.<\/p>\n Check insulation<\/p>\n Outside, check your refrigerant line insulation. If it\u2019s worn out and baking in the sun, your system has to work harder.<\/p>\n \u201cYours, the insulation is probably quite a few years old, and if the sun beats down on your refrigerant line, it actually warms up the refrigerant, which might hurt your temperature split,\u201d Byous explained.<\/p>\n So how much energy am I really spending?<\/p>\n JEA will put it all into an Energy Assessment Report, showing what your habits cost, and what\u2019s driving up the bill. <\/p>\n According to JEA, my usage is:<\/p>\n 16% for hot water<\/p>\n 29% for A\/C <\/p>\n Cox told me that I spend a $1.28 a day on air conditioning, which he said is actually pretty good. And I spend $3 a day on just electricity, so appliances, lights, things like that.<\/p>\n Along with my water usage, which is pretty low, according to Cox, my bill for next month should be about $106. <\/p>\n Other money-saving reminders<\/p>\n These habits can also help you save money on your monthly JEA bill: <\/p>\n Get your HVAC checked every six months<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not home, raise the thermostat threshold to a warmer temperature <\/p>\n Turn off the lights when you leave a room<\/p>\n For every degree you increase your thermostat setting, you can save 5% to 6% <\/p>\n Use your fan; it makes it 3-4 degrees cooler, so the A\/C runs less<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 We all love summer \u2014 until the power bill shows up. 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