Customers are seeing higher bills this month as a result of the longest cold wave to hit Central Florida in years.

When the Arctic air arrived January 1, low temperatures fell below 40 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 consecutive days. The sustained cold forced home heating systems —and OUC power plants—to work like never before. In fact, OUC set an all-time record for power demand as customers used 1,191 megawatts, exceeding the previous mark of 1,182 MW set in July 2007.

Did you know that it requires up to three times more energy to heat a home than it does to cool it? So when temperatures fell as many as 40 degrees below the recommended thermostat se ng of 68, heaters were forced to run longer to compensate.

Many other factors affect the amount ofheat needed to maintain a comfortable temperature. Older, less insulated homes and homes with less effcient heating systems will use more energy. And higher thermostat settings can increase heating costs as much as 10 percent for each degree above 68.

Customers coping with a life challenge such as a medical emergency or job loss may call 2-1-1 United Way to see if they qualify for OUC’s Project Care or other bill assistance programs. Simply dial 2-1-1 and follow the voice prompts.

Winter is not over yet. When temperatures dip, remember to dress in layers and make sure doors and windows are sealed ti ghtly. Visit www.ouc.com for lots more energy saving tips to help you stay warm and keep your energy bill lower, too.

OUC knows your time is valuable which is why we offer a variety of convenient ways to pay your OUC bill. Whether you prefer to pay online, by phone or in person, there’s an option for you.

To Pay in Person: Stop by any of the following OUC Customer Service Centers to pay your bill or speak to a customer service representative:

Reliable Plaza 100 West Anderson St. Mon-Thurs: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fri: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sat: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Southwest Orlando 3800 Gardenia Ave. Mon-Thurs: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fri: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

St. Cloud 1300 9th St. Mon-Fri: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Our customer service centers provide full service for our Orlando and St. Cloud customers. All three locations also have 24-hour drop boxes for your convenience. Please note that these centers close on major holidays.

Bank Payment Centers: OUC customers can pay at the select Central Florida bank branches listed below. Please note that St. Cloud customers can only make payments at St. Cloud branches, and Orlando customers can only make payments at Orlando branches. Banks only accept payments if paid before the due date.

IN ORLANDO Orlando Federal Credit Union 1117 S. Westmoreland Dr. 2150 S. Semoran Blvd. 2500 W. Colonial Dr. (inside Sheriff’s Headquarters) 4500 S. John Young Pkwy. 400 S. Orange Ave. (inside City Hall)

IN ST. CLOUD SunTrust Bank 4290 13th St. Public Bank 2500 13th St. Bank Of America 4300 13th St.

Amscot and Fidelity Express Locations: You also can pay your OUC bill at any Amscot location as well as at a number of Fidelity Express locations throughout Central Florida. There is a $1 fee for payments made at these locations. Go to www.ouc.com to find Amscot and Fidelity Express locations near you.

Pay at Vcom® Kiosks at 7-Eleven®: As an OUC customer, you can cash a check and pay your OUC bill at the same time at participating 7-Eleven® stores with Vcom® self-service kiosks throughout Orange and Osceola counties — any time, day or night. There is a $1.50 charge with each transaction.

Don't Stand in Line Avoid the lines and the hassles with these convenient options for paying your OUC bill online. Use Rely-A-Pay. When you enroll in the Rely-A-Pay program, OUC will automatically deduct your monthly bill from your bank account on your bill’s due date. It’s that simple. And it won’t cost you a cent. Sign up now by calling 407.423.9018. Enroll in Budget Billing. Wish you could predict how much you spend each month on utilities? OUC is now offering Budget Billing, a program designed to help customers avoid unpredictable bills by equalizing payments over the year. This free service helps you plan your monthly payments and keep your budgets balanced. To learn more about Budget Billing or to enroll in the program, please call Customer Service at 407.423.9018 or visit us online at www.ouc.com Pay with eCheck. Go to www.ouc.com or call 407.423.9018 to pay your bill with our free electronic check service. Paying by eCheck is easy, and your payment will be deducted automatically from your checking account. Pay by Credit Card. SpeedPay, an independent service provider, processes all credit card payments made to OUC. Go to www.ouc.com or call 407.423.9018 to pay your bill by credit card. Payments can be charged to your Visa, MasterCard, Discover card or ATM/Debit card. SpeedPay charges a $5.75 fee for each transaction.