JUNO BEACH, Fla., Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Florida Power & Light Co. said it is bracing for soaring demand during a brutal cold snap that brought record lows to the southern United States.
The Florida utility said it was monitoring weather conditions and fuel availability to make sure it has enough power to meet high demands as overnight temperatures dip to record lows.
FPL said it was running its power plants at peak output and switching some of its facilities to oil-based fuels to compensate for rising natural gas demands.
If weather turns colder, the utility said it would ask its customers to take voluntary measures to cut demand.
FPL also reminds its customers to lower the settings on their home heating devices and avoid the irresponsible or excessive use of space heaters.
The National Weather Service predicted temperatures would fall below 25 degrees Fahrenheit in midland areas, with near 30s expected along the coast.
A warming trend is forecast for later in the week, with lows in the 50s expected by Thursday.
