LCEC – Lee County Electric Cooperative

Managing Energy Costs

The top two energy culprits in the home are air conditioning/heating costs and water heating. Appliance use (refrigerators, stove tops, televisions, etc.) also contribute significantly. Cutting energy usage and costs doesn’t have to involve major lifestyle changes or buying a pricey new appliance or technology. You can save money every month by simply adopting a few simple habits.

-Pay your bill in full and on time to avoid late fees and deposit charges.
With busy schedules, it can be easy to forget to write that check, log on to a website or make a phone call every month. Visit the payment options page at www.lcec.net to see all the easy, time saving payment options that are available to you FREE of charge!
-Turn off ceiling fans, lights and electronics when no one is in the room.
Ceiling fans work by making you feel cooler, but they don’t actually change the temperature of your home or give your air conditioner a boost.
-Maintain your air conditioning system.
Clean or replace the filters in your air conditioner once a month or as needed, and have your unit serviced every year.
-Set your air conditioner thermostat to 78°F.
Every degree lower is an 8 percent increase to your cooling costs.
-Keep your water heater thermostat no higher than 120°F.
-Run your dishwasher with a full load
A full load in the dish washer is more energy efficient than hand washing. Do full loads of laundry as well.
-Give the oven a break.
Ovens add extra heat into your home. This can be especially pricey during summer when your air conditioner is already working overtime. When possible, use a microwave instead.
-Teach children to conserve.
Instilling good habits can pay off.

For more energy-saving tips and payment option information, visit www.lcec.net.

LCEC Employees Contribute 750 Holiday Cards To Local Card Drive For Troops

LCEC employees filled out a total of 750 holiday cards to be sent overseas to the troops. Following the suggestion of an employee who heard about the card drive that the Daybreak with Drew Steele radio show was doing, LCEC employees jumped into action and within just one week, wrote out 750 cards! People from throughout our community helped the Drew Steele show to collect an amazing 42,116 cards which will be sent overseas to help brighten the holidays for our troops! “The minute we announced this to employees, the cards began rolling in. We had hoped for 500 cards, but our employees went above-and-beyond to share some holiday cheer with those who risk their lives to protect our freedom,” Senior Public Relations Specialist Laura Puerto said. The cards from LCEC were hand-delivered to the Drew Steele show on December 11. Special thanks to our incredible employees for their heartfelt cards, and to the Drew Steele show for organizing this holiday card drive!

LCEC Lighting Up Lives This Holiday Season

LCEC employees volunteer thousands of hours each and every year to help our community. From mentoring students to trash pickup to organizing fundraisers, employees and their family and friends take pride in serving those in need. Here are just a few ways LCEC is lighting up lives around SWFL this holiday season:
-Over 30 employees volunteered their time to both decorate and host at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates Holiday Nights.
-Employees are filling backpacks with personal hygiene products and clothing for those getting care at the Salvation Army Medical Unit. Employees also collected money to help the Salvation Army purchase new bedding.
-Employees are writing holiday cards for the “20,000 for the Troops” challenge via the Drew Steel radio show.
-Employees are volunteering their time for the United Way’s Meals of Hope.

LCEC is also energizing the community this season by:
-Installing a 50-foot Christmas tree, participating in the holiday parade, and sponsoring and judging the holiday light contest in the City of Marco Island.
-Installing the dolphin lights on the Matlacha Bridge.
-Sponsoring the Christmas Around the World celebration and participating in the holiday parade in Immokalee.

These are just a few of the many ways LCEC is helping to spread holiday cheer this season. To find out more about LCEC’s work in the community, visit https://www.lcec.net/about-lcec/community-and-education/community-involvement.

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Ho, Ho, Ho–ld Down Energy Costs During the Holidays

With gift giving, traveling, and long-weekend guests, holiday costs can add up. Don’t let your electric bill tip the balance. Below are a few ways to save during the holidays.

Decorating for the Holidays
Most people use standard incandescent lights or mini-lights to decorate for the holidays. Light Emitting Diode (LED) holiday lights have a number of benefits over conventional lighting. These lights produce extremely high brightness with only a fraction of energy use. In fact, LED light use 75 percent less energy than mini lights and last an average of 50,000 hours. LED lights also don’t get hot like conventional bulbs and put less stress on household circuitry. Although LED lights are more expensive than traditional holiday lights, this investment will surely pay off in the long run!

Energy-wise Habits
You will notice a change in your electric bill during times when you are home more than usual, when your children are out of school, or if you have guests staying with you. Pass on these helpful energy tips:
-Always turn the lights off when you leave a room.
-Turn the TV off when you’re not watching it.
-Don’t leave ceiling fans on if you’re not in the room.
-Take advantage of slightly cooler temperatures! Open the windows for some fresh air and cost-saving benefits.

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