OUC Urges Safety and Energy Awareness During Cold Snap

November 10, 2025

Simple steps to stay safe, warm, and energy-smart

ORLANDO, Fla. – As Florida experiences an unusual dip in temperatures this week, OUC—The Reliable One is urging residents to stay safe and warm while keeping energy costs under control. While fall in Florida is typically mild, sudden cold snaps can catch households off guard, especially when heating systems are used more than usual.

Cold Weather Safety Tips

Use space heaters safely. Keep them at least 3 feet from flammable materials and never leave them unattended.
Avoid using ovens or stoves for heat. This poses serious fire and carbon monoxide risks.
Never tuck in an electric blanket if you use it on your bed.

Cold Weather Energy Saving Tips

Home heating is the largest user of energy and offers the greatest opportunity for savings. Lowering the thermostat by just one degree can reduce your heating bill by up to 3%.
Use weather stripping or caulk around windows and doors to prevent heat loss.
Reverse fan direction to clockwise to circulate warm air downward.
Turn heater down or off when not at home.

Connect with OUC

Register for outage alerts (English and Spanish) to report outages and receive
information on restoration times, crew locations and more.
Sign up by texting REG to 69682 or visiting OUC.com/alerts. Alerts are available in English and Spanish.
Follow OUC on Facebook and Xfor the latest news.
Report an outage and receive updates by texting OUT to 69682.
To report an outage by phone, call (407) 423-9018.
Visit OUC’s Outage Map for the latest information.

At OUC, safety comes first. In the event of an outage, our crews are ready to respond and fully prepared to begin restoration efforts as quickly and safely as possible.

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About OUC—The Reliable One
For more than 100 years, OUC—The Reliable One has provided exceptional value to its customers and community through the delivery of sustainable and reliable services and solutions. The utility provides electric, water, chilled water, lighting and solar services to more than 400,000 accounts in Orlando, St. Cloud and parts of unincorporated Orange and Osceola counties. As OUC prepares for the next century, it remains committed to a goal of achieving net zero CO2 emissions by 2050 while supporting the Central Florida community with conservation, sustainability and energy efficiency resources. Visit www.ouc.com to learn more.

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