Keep Energy Vampires from Draining Your Wallet this Halloween

This Halloween, Duke Energy Florida alerts customers about energy vampires, devices which are hidden users of energy even when switched off. The devices continue to consume energy year-round, leading to higher electricity consumption and energy bills.

They can drain energy – and potential savings from your energy bill – accounting for as much as 20% of your total energy costs. 

Customers can save money by finding energy vampires and making energy-efficient updates:

• Unplug unused electronics. Chargers, coffee machines and gaming consoles continue to draw small amounts of power when plugged in.
   
• Turn off Halloween lights and decorations during the day and overnight. Limit glowing Halloween décor to evening hours and remember to unplug them overnight.
   
• Use smart power strips. The power strips automatically cut off power to devices that go into standby mode.
   
• Upgrade to LED bulbs. LED bulbs use up to 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last much longer.
   
• Update appliance settings. Enable “energy saver” or sleep mode settings on applicable TVs, computers and appliances.

“Small habit changes with home electronics can help cut costs,” said Melissa Seixas, president, Duke Energy Florida. “As we head into the cooler months and give our air conditioners a break, there are other ways, including finding energy vampires, that customers can continue to save power and money.”

For additional ways to save energy and lower bills, please visit here.

Duke Energy Florida

Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. 

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious energy transition, keeping customer reliability and value at the forefront as it builds a smarter energy future. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including natural gas, nuclear, renewables and energy storage. 

More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition.