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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