With high day and evening temperatures and unstable weather forecast through the weekend in the Inland Empire and high desert regions, Southern California Edison (SCE) reminds its customers of the importance of energy conservation.
The heavy demand could also cause distribution equipment failure, which could lead to outages for some SCE customers. With the unstable weather possibly including lightning and flash floods, SCE is taking steps to ensure that crews are available to respond to outages in all of the utility’s service areas and communities.
SCE, however, urges customers to conserve power since it can provide an added reserve should an unexpected power emergency occur. Conservation also helps minimize the impact on the distribution system when customers use energy around the clock.
In addition, conservation helps customers keep their bills lower during high temperatures since bills can increase by 30 percent for residential customers who use air conditioning. Residential customers and large energy user customers are urged to consider the following:
· Set thermostats no lower than 78 degrees.
· Use electric fans instead of air conditioning when practical.
· Close drapes and blinds to keep out direct sunlight during hot periods.
· Avoid using evaporative coolers or humidifiers at the same time an air conditioner is running.
· When possible, businesses should shift power-intensive work processes to morning or evening hours.
· Keep outdoor activities to a minimum, and drink a lot of water during the hottest parts of the day.
· During a power outage, turn off and unplug any unnecessary electrical equipment.
· Low-income and medically sensitive customers can take advantage of “Cool Centers,” which are operated by local governments and community-based organizations. A list of locations can be found at www.sce.com/coolcenters.
· Use flashlights for lighting during an outage; do not use candles because they pose a significant fire hazard.
· Never attempt to move or go near a downed power line. Call 911 to report the situation.
· Watch for traffic signals that may be out. Approach those intersections as four-way stops.
· If someone in your home is dependent on electric-powered, life sustaining medical equipment, have an emergency plan that includes a back-up power source, or make arrangements to relocate.
