Updated: PSEG-LI asked customers Friday to eliminate all non-essential power use between 3-7 p.m. as the high temperatures and humidity are expected to strain resources.
“Cover sun-facing windows, raise AC settings and use large appliances at night,” the utility said. Friday’s message took a firmer tone from one earlier in the week, as the three-day wave of temperatures in the 90s combined with high humidity settled into the area.
Newsday reported earlier this week that two major power lines to Long Island aren’t working and a third is at half capacity.
Earlier
With temperatures in the 90s and high humidity expected for the next few days, PSEG-LI asked customers Tuesday to try to scale back their use of electricity.
A heat advisory is in effect Wednesday and Thursday between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. The heat index for Wednesday is forecast at 100; for Thursday the index could reach 104. Hot and humid conditions are expected to continue through Friday and beyond, with rain possible late evening or overnight during the three-day heat wave.
The utility said it might activate its voluntary Smart Savers Thermostat to reduce usage with the 31,000 customers who enrolled in the program. It also said, ” PSEG Long Island expects to have sufficient electricity from available sources to meet forecasted customer demand, contingent upon other transmission and generation facilities remaining in service.”
“With more people working from home, it’s more important than ever that we all do our part to conserve energy and reduce overall peak demand,” said Michael Sullivan, senior director of transmission and distribution, PSEG Long Island.
PSEG Long Island also encourages customers to take steps to reduce peak demand on the system and save on their bills.
Energy Conservation Tips
- Set home thermostats or air conditioner units to 78 degrees.
- Run major appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and pool pumps, in the morning or late evening to avoid the peak demand hours of 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Set refrigerators and freezers at most-efficient temperatures.
- Do not cool an empty house. Set your thermostat higher when you are away, or use a smart thermostat to control the temperature in your home. Customers can receive an incentive on qualifying thermostats for enrolling in PSEG Long Island’s Smart Savers Thermostat program, which can be used to control usage during peak summer days. Visit https://www.psegliny.com/smartsavers for more details.
- Commercial customers may sign up for the Commercial System Relief program. Visit https://www.psegliny.com/contactus/businessandcommercialsavings/csrp for more details.
- Close blinds and draperies facing the sun to keep out the sun’s heat.
- Ceiling fans cool fast and cost less than air conditioning. (In hot weather, set your ceiling fan to spin quickly, counterclockwise to push air downward toward the floor.)
- Seal holes and cracks around doors and windows with caulk or weather-stripping.
- Replace old appliances with new energy efficient ENERGY STAR® appliances
- Replace air filters monthly. Dirty filters make your air conditioner work harder.
Additional energy saving conservation tips can be obtained from PSEG Long Island’s website, www.psegliny.com, or by calling its Energy Infoline at 1-800-692-2626.
