MIAMI (AP) - Southerners hungry for heat are causing power outages across the region that's gripped by record low temperatures.

By midmorning, Florida Power and Light had about 14,000 homes without power and 1,300 restoration workers in the field. A power company spokesman said Sunday and Monday set successive records for electricity demand.

Families in Tampa and in north Miami were treated for smoke inhalation after trying to use barbecue grills to heat their homes.

About 7,700 homes and business in South Baldwin County, Alabama, lost power when electrical demand overloaded a relay station. Crews from Riviera Utilities fixed the problem, but the system went down again.

The utility is asking customers to turn off unneeded devices to help prevent more blackouts.
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