San Diego Gas & Electric hopes its incentive program for reduced power use will get customers to give their appliances the afternoon off Wednesday as a heat wave continues.
The utility said that while it has enough resources to meet the expected demand, residential customers can ease the strain on the electric grid by reducing power consumption between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
The National Weather Service forecasts high temperatures in the high 80s along the coast, with the mercury climbing into the high 90s inland, and approaching triple digits in the foothills.
Those enrolled in the Reduce Your Use program are eligible to earn a bill credit of 75 cents per kilowatt hour saved or $1.25 credit. Customers can go to the company's website at www.sdge.com to sign up for the program, and obtain further details about it.
To cut back on energy use, the utility suggests using a ceiling or portable fan instead of air conditioning; raising thermostats by four to six degrees; running major appliances before 11 a.m. or after 6 p.m.; unplugging chargers and power strips; and turning off pool pumps between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
