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The dog days of summer have already produced one record for peak CPW electric demand in June.
On the afternoon of June 18, CPW recorded a demand of 87.62 megawatts, surpassing the previous record (August 2011) of 85.64 megawatts by 2.3 percent. Above normal temperatures and humidity is responsible for higher-than-normal demand across much of the region.
“We had a very hot month, and we always see numbers rise during these times,” Tony Farr, CPW’s Electric Department Manager, said.
“We are proud to provide high reliability to customers, even during high demand times. However, we also encourage customers to conserve and save on their power bill,” Farr said.
Here’s some energy saving tips.
• Set thermostats a few degrees higher in the summer. A small difference will lower the overall cooling bill.
• Keep homes warmer than normal when they are empty, and lower the thermostat setting to 78°F only when people are home and need cooling.
• Using a ceiling fan allows customers to raise thermostats 4°F with no reduction in comfort. Fans don’t cool rooms, only people, so turn fans off when unoccupied.
• Use a bathroom fan when taking showers or baths to remove humidity.
• Schedule regular maintenance for cooling equipment to make sure it is operating efficiently.
• Avoid placing lamps or TV sets near air-conditioning thermostats. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
• Vacuum regularly to remove any dust buildup. Ensure that furniture and other objects are not blocking the airflow through your registers.
• On hot days, avoid using the oven; cook on the stove, use a microwave oven, or grill outside.
• Install efficient lighting that runs cooler. Only about 10 percent to 15 percent of electricity that incandescent lights consume results in light — the rest is turned into heat.
• Seal cracks and openings to prevent warm air from leaking into the home.
• Turn down the temperature of water heaters to the warm setting (120°F). This helps save money and avoids scalding hands.
Source: Department of Energy.