Buckingham residents brace for cold; FPL readies for power surge

LEE COUNTY, Fla. - Residents in Buckingham are soaking up the sun at the local dog park, but a cold snap is on the horizon.

"I fear that a lot of people aren't prepared," said Austie Slinkard, who traveled from Missouri to Florida on Christmas Eve to escape the cold.

"I thought it was just going to be 70s the whole time, kind of crazy that it's dipping down into 30s. That's like, almost unheard of, especially for this area," said Slinkard.

With the expected drop in temperatures, more residents are likely to turn on their heating systems. Florida Power and Light (FPL) is preparing for the increased demand.

"We kind of keep the house at a regular basis. So I don't think it's been too much of a change for us," said a local resident.

FPL currently has no immediate plans to activate residential load control. However, if demand spikes, the company may temporarily power down enrolled pool pumps and water heaters on Monday morning to reduce strain on the system.

To stay warm without increasing power usage, Slinkard is opting for a simple approach.

"Put as much clothing on as you can, especially if the power grid is going to be like compromised or overworked, because everybody's now turning on their heat and stuff," said Slinkard.

Residents are advised to prepare for the cold and consider alternative ways to stay warm as temperatures drop.