Everyone knows the basics: nudge the thermostat to 78°, swap in LED bulbs, and keep the fridge door closed. Those moves help, but Florida’s rising heat and rising rates call for heavier-hitting strategies. If the idea of another triple-digit bill makes you sweat before you step outside, we’ve researched local rebates, time-of-use pricing and Florida-specific research to keep you cool.

1. Shift, Then Slash, With Time-of-Use Pricing

TECO’s free Energy Planner divides each day into Low, Medium, and High price windows. The Low rate shows up 27.7% of the time and knocks 2.986 ¢/kWh off your cost, while High never appears on weekends or holidays. Because Energy Planner’s discounted windows cover 87% of the year, programming your water heater, pool pump, and EV charger to run after 11 p.m. can slice off a whole month’s bill without sweating through a warmer house.

2. Get Paid for Letting the Utility Borrow Your A/C

Demand-response programs send a small signal to cycle big appliances during peak stress. FPL’s voluntary On Call program pays about $90 in annual bill credits, and Tampa Electric hands out $50 per thermostat through its smart-thermostat rebate. Pair a connected stat with Energy Planner’s cheap windows and you double-dip. Lower kilowatt-hours and lower prices for the hours left over.

3. Use Cash-Back Rebates to Crush the Big Loads

The state’s new Home Electrification & Appliance Rebates program hasn’t launched yet, but if everything goes through, it’ll offer as much as $14,000 toward high-efficiency gear. Until then, local utilities are stepping up: Duke Energy offers up to $800 on a heat-pump water heater, and TECO writes a $350 check when you install an ENERGY STAR variable-speed pool pump. Those pumps are third-party certified to use 70% less energy than single-speed models which could take a giant bite out of the second-biggest electricity hog in Florida homes.

4. Beat the Heat at the Roofline

Forget pricey solar for a moment. The Florida Solar Energy Center measured air-conditioning savings up to 43% simply by applying reflective roof coatings to nine occupied homes around the state. If you’re already due for a reroof, choose white shingles or terra-cotta barrel tile and install a radiant barrier. The upgrade costs less than upsizing your HVAC and never adds a cent to future bills.

5. Plant Shade That Pays Dividends for Decades

A University of Florida IFAS study found that strategically placed canopy trees can trim cooling demand 27 to 42% in Florida houses. Plant deciduous species on the west and south sides so they block brutal summer sun but let in winter warmth. Keep limbs ten feet from the roofline for storm safety, and you’ll enjoy cooler rooms plus higher curb appeal.

6. Book a Free Home Energy Audit Before Spending a Dime

TECO’s in-home audit pinpoints leaky ductwork, thin attic insulation, and phantom loads. Crews leave you with a prioritized list and links to matching rebates, so you invest where payback is quickest. Many homeowners find that sealing attic bypasses for a couple hundred dollars saves more than windows or door swaps.

Pulling It All Together

First, tap Energy Planner or a similar time-of-use plan to pay less for the electricity you still need. Next, enroll in a cycling program so your A/C earns credits on the hottest days. Rebate-fueled upgrades like heat-pump water heaters and variable-speed pool pumps slash the biggest loads, while reflective roofs and well-placed trees cool the house passively. Finally, confirm your priorities with a free audit so every dollar lands where it counts.

Stack these Florida-specific moves and you can trim that triple-digit summer bill far beyond what any thermostat tweak or lightbulb swap ever promised. And then spend the savings on something more fun than utilities. Ice cream’s a good start.