NEW YORK – Con Edison said today that peak use of electricity reached a new high for 2011 and reminded customers to continue conserving energy as the brutal heat socks the New York area.
The company reported that overall customer electric usage peaked at 12,710 megawatts (MW) at 6 p.m. Before today, the high for this year was 12,589 MW at 5 p.m. on June 9. The all-time peak record in the company’s New York City and Westchester County service area is 13,141 MW, set at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, August 2, 2006.
Despite the high demand, Con Edison crews continued to deliver power reliably to more than 3.2 million customers while responding to scattered outages in the intense heat.
The company has crews and support personnel ready to respond to any electrical outages caused by the hot and humid conditions that are expected to continue through the weekend.
Con Edison reminds customers to report power interruptions or service problems online at www.conEd.com, and on their cell phones and PDAs. They also may call 1-800-75-CONED promptly if they are experiencing any service difficulties.
Customers can save energy and money by taking simple steps, including:
· Making sure air conditioner filters are clean for peak efficiency.
· Setting thermostats no lower than 78 degrees. Each degree lower increases cooling costs by 6 percent.
· Closing off the rooms not being used if you have a room air conditioner. If you have central air, block the vents in unused or vacant rooms.
· Turning off lights and other appliances, using a timer to turn them on as necessary.
· Running appliances such as ovens, washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers in the early morning or late at night when it’s generally cooler. Another alternative: Using a microwave to cook, or a barbecue outside, if possible.
· CLOSING THE DOOR. Don’t let your air conditioning fly out the door. Storeowners who leave doors open with the A/C running could be subject to fines from the city.
· Taking Con Edison’s offer of a free programmable thermostat if you have central air conditioning. Program the thermostat manually or from the Internet. Turning off your air conditioner when you’re not there beats leaving it on all the time. Programming it to turn on before you return is a wise way to save on summer electric bills. To learn more about Con Edison’s free programmable thermostat, call 1-866-521-8600 or visit www.conEd.com/cool.
Customers can also find energy-saving tips for homes and businesses at www.conEd.com/thepowerofgreen. The site links to other information about renewable energy and green power.
Con Edison continues to offer a host of energy-savings programs for homes and businesses. Customers can take steps to reduce energy usage this summer with rebates and incentives now available for energy-efficient appliances and cooling systems in their homes and businesses. To learn more or enroll, go to www.coned.com/greenteam or call 1-877-870-6118.