GRU offers energy conservation tips during overnight freeze
February 23, 2026
Press release from Gainesville Regional Utilities
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A freeze warning is in effect from midnight tonight through 9 a.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 24. We want to encourage customers to conserve energy during peak hours (6 – 9 a.m. and 6 – 9 p.m.) while staying warm and safe. Here are a few tips:
- Set your thermostat as low as comfortably possible (68°F or lower) and only adjust by one or two degrees at a time.
- Dress in warm layers before adjusting thermostat settings.
- Use a space heater or heated blanket. Ensure they are plugged into a wall outlet and kept away from curtains and furniture. Do not leave unattended.
- If using a fireplace, ensure the flue is open and use a safety screen. Never leave fires or hot embers unattended.
- Reverse ceiling fans to run clockwise at a low speed to push warm air down into living spaces.
- Let sunlight help warm your home during the day by opening blinds and curtains. Then close them at night to hold in warmth.
For more energy saving tips and safety information, visit www.gru.com/winter.
This would be REALLY GOOD info to share BEFORE the FIRST cold snap arrives next winter (usually in early January.) Better late than never, I suppose.
True. The only time I remember them being proactive was when that former idiot Mayor Poe told everyone they were raising utility rates ~7% per year until 2027, or something like that. (Although Poe is the former Mayor, he’s still an idiot.)
Old people need the thermostat higher than 68, and shouldn’t be alone with a fireplace. I’d advise upgrading central heat to gas furnaces, if gas lines available or propane tanks allowed by HOA rules.