As Connecticut tolerates another heat wave, local power companies and the regional grid operator are asking resident to conserve power.
They said were are not at risk of a blackout or a brownout, but usage is peaking.
An excessive heat advisory has been issued for the entire state and ISO New England, which operates the national power grid, said demand could approach a seven-year-record as residents use air conditioners to get relief from the heat.
That record, set on Aug. 2, 2006, is 28,130 megawatts.
Today is the fourth day of the fourth heatwave this summer and power usage is expected to hit a peak on Thursday at 27,800 megatwatts.
Because of that, ISO is asking customers to conserve electricity, especially between noon and 8 p.m.
The mercury is expected reach 95 to 100 degrees inland through Friday or Saturday, according to NBC Connecticut meteorologist Bob Maxon. Humidity will push the heat index even higher, making it feel like 104 degrees.
The shoreline will get minimal relief. Temperatures by the shore will be in the low 90s for most of the week.
Norwich Public Utilities has issued a power alert to customers for today and tomorrow and asks residents to decrease the amount of electricity they are using by limiting their use of washers, dryers, stoves and by turning off unnecessary lighting during the peak period of the power alert.
“Electricity is a commodity that is bought and sold on the open market, and costs are determined by the amount of electricity that is bought. When a tremendous amount of electricity is being used, the price increases exponentially. We are then charged this higher price for the following year,” John Bilda, Norwich Public Utilities' general manager said in a statement. “Since the demand for power on these power alert days is so great, by decreasing our electrical use, we lower our electricity demand. This will then have a positive effect on next year’s wholesale energy cost.”
ISO recommends setting the thermostat to between 74 and 78 degrees between noon and 8 p.m., turning off unneeded lights, appliances and office equipment and doing laundry early in the morning or in the late evening.
If you are leaving home for an extended period of time, ISO recommends turning off your air conditioner.
The heat wave might end on Sunday, with cooler and less humid air moving in by then.