Progress Energy Asks Public to Conserve Electricity During Heat Wave
August 08 2007 - 2:03PM
PR Newswire (US)
RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Because of record high
temperatures and increased customer demand for electricity,
Progress Energy Carolinas is asking the public to curb their use of
non-essential electric power during this heat wave. Progress Energy
anticipates reaching a new record for demand today while
temperatures remain over 100 in much of their service territory.
Despite projected record demand levels, the company does not
anticipate any brown outs in the Carolinas. The record high
temperatures are resulting in near record high levels of customer
demand. Progress Energy does ongoing planning to ensure their
ability to meet customer demand even during peaks of record demand.
Part of that planning includes asking customers to curb
non-essential use of electricity. Reducing individual use of
non-essential electricity will help ensure that there are no
demand-related outages. Industrial and commercial customers are
also asked to reduce power use, as are residents of communities
whose municipal power system is served by Progress Energy
Carolinas. Customers are encouraged turn off unnecessary lights,
avoid using dishwashers, washing machines and dryers and other
chores involving electrical equipment until after 9 p.m. when
customer demand usually subsides. We encourage conservation
everyday and recommend the following tips to help customers save
energy and money: - For central air conditioning systems, keep the
fan switch on your thermostat in the "auto" position when cooling.
This gives you better cooling and humidity control. Having the fan
switch "on" continuously could costs an extra $25 a month on your
electric bill. - Set the thermostat a little higher. Most people
can be comfortable with a setting of 78-80 degrees Fahrenheit, plus
you'll save up to 7 percent of your cooling costs for each degree
above 78. - Use a ceiling fan or portable fan to supplement your
air conditioning. A fan can make you feel three to four degrees
cooler (and only costs a half-cent per hour to operate) so you can
set your thermostat a few degrees higher and save on cooling costs.
- When you leave home, turn off the ceiling fans and set the
thermostat up a few degrees. - Clean or change your filters
monthly. Dirty filters can increase operating costs by 20 percent.
Don't block registers and vents with furniture or drapes. - Close
blinds, drapes and shades during the hottest part of the day. This
keeps the sun's rays from heating your home. - Use your microwave
oven to cook food. Microwaves use less than one-half the power of
conventional ovens and they don't heat up your kitchen. - Caulk,
seal and weather strip all openings from your home to the outside.
Eliminating air leaks in your home can save you up to 10 percent in
energy costs. Progress Energy, headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a
Fortune 250 energy company with more than 21,000 megawatts of
generation capacity and $10 billion in annual revenues. The company
includes two major utilities that serve more than 3.1 million
customers in the Carolinas and Florida. Progress Energy is the 2006
recipient of the Edison Electric Institute's Edison Award, the
industry's highest honor, in recognition of its operational
excellence. The company also is the first utility to receive the
prestigious J.D. Power and Associates Founder's Award for customer
service. Progress Energy serves two fast-growing areas of the
country, and the company is pursuing a balanced approach to meeting
the future energy needs of the region. That balance includes
increased energy efficiency programs, investments in renewable
energy technologies and a state-of-the-art electricity system. For
more information about Progress Energy, visit the company's Web
site at http://www.progress-energy.com/. DATASOURCE: Progress
Energy Carolinas CONTACT: Progress Energy Corporate Communications,
+1-877-641-6397 or +1-919-546-6189 Web site:
http://www.progress-energy.com/
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