Orange & Rockland has declared a Heat Watch for today with a predicted high temperature of 92 degrees in the Lower Hudson region.
A Heat Watch means non-emergency work on the electric distribution and transmission systems will be deferred and system engineers will closely monitor the loads throughout the electrical distribution system.
Today’s scorching forecast will require 1,377 megawatts of power. A typical day requires about 1,000 megawatts of power. The all-time one day O&R record load was 1,617 MW.
Here are recommendations from O&R on how to beat the heat without blowing a Lower Hudson fuse:
- Set the thermostat of your central air conditioner at 78 degrees F or higher to achieve maximum savings on your cooling costs. Setting the room temperature on the air conditioner at 75 degrees costs about 20 percent more. A 72-degree setting costs about 40 percent more than the 78-degree setting.
- Install a timer or clock thermostat on your air conditioner so you can program it to operate and shut-off at pre-determined hours. That saves you from running it all day so you return at day’s end to a cool house.
- If you have a room air-conditioning unit, close off the rooms not being used; if you have central air, block off the vents for un-used rooms.
- Plan cooking, baking or other household activities that produce heat and humidity for the cooler times of the day and night.
- Use a portable or ceiling fan to circulate the pre-cooled air in your air-conditioned home. A fan uses about 90 percent less energy than an air conditioner.
- In very humid weather, adjust your air conditioner’s fan to a low setting. It’ll take longer for the air conditioner to cool your home, but your unit will bring in steamy air at a slower rate and make you feel more comfortable.
- As the sun moves from east to west during the day, pull your curtains and shades on windows to block out the heat.
Call O&R at 1-877-434-4100 if you have power problems.
Source: Orange & Rockland
