– A prolonged period of rain has led to a significant increase in utility bills for many residents in Jacksonville, Florida. The city has been experiencing a 13-day streak of rain, causing flooding and damage to homes and businesses. This has resulted in a surge in demand for electricity and water, leading to higher utility bills.

“We are hoping that we can add some to our monthly budget because we’re not going to be running our AC’s as much,” said First Florida Credit Union Digital Marketing Manager Ashleigh Robinson. “We can bump those thermostats up or turn them off.” However, some residents may see an increase in energy usage because the rainy forecasts are forcing people to do activities inside their homes. “We’ve been spending a lot more time at home and so, we are increasing our energy usage in some other areas, [via] utilizing our lights, [using] a lot more our appliances,” said Robinson. And in terms of your yard, you hopefully haven’t used your sprinklers since Labor Day.

**A. Water Conservation Strategies for Homeowners
**B. Saving Water:

Robinson, a water conservation expert, advises homeowners to take proactive steps to conserve water and reduce their water bills. She suggests installing water sensors and adjusting watering days to optimize water usage. Additionally, she encourages homeowners to utilize excess rainwater for various purposes, such as watering plants or washing cars.

In addition, the constant rain may be a good way to check water prone parts of your home. “Use this opportunity to check your home for leaks,” said Robinson. “Your roof, your doors, your windows, make sure you’re good because if you can get in front of a potentially very costly problem and tackle it while it’s a smaller, then you’re going to see a lot of savings there. And of course, like we’ve talked about, just adjusting your AC being proactive about doing that. So many of us are on smart home thermostats. We don’t really go in and adjust our AC on a regular basis.”