Exercise Smart Utility Use
Reporter: News
Email Address: news@wctv.tv
City of Tallahassee Utilities Press Release:
Energy Efficiency Will Help Customers During Extreme Heat Spell – As customers cope with this week’s extremely high temperatures, the City of Tallahassee Utilities reminds them to practice energy efficiency throughout the home. Next month’s utility bills will likely be somewhat higher, due to increased usage of air conditioning units during the extreme weather conditions. Even higher temperatures are forecasted for this weekend, and thus residential utility usage will likely increase as customers spend more time indoors at home.
Customers may be able to better manage their summer utility bills, however, during ultra-hot conditions by following these tips from the City’s Energy Services Department:
Set the air conditioning thermostat at 78 (setting it at 73 degrees, for instance, instead of 78 can increase operating costs by 50%!) – or at 80 degrees in combination with the use of ceiling fans, for even greater savings!
Don’t try to speed-cool at a very low thermostat setting when you first arrive home from work or school. Instead, choose your normal evening setting, for example 78 degrees. Your AC cools just as fast set to 78 degrees as it does at 68 degrees.
Close all shades, drapes and blinds during the day.
Change the air conditioner’s air filter monthly during heavy use.
Set the air conditioning thermostat’s FAN setting on AUTO, not ON (keeps humidity lower, costs less and increases comfort).
In addition to the hot temperature energy tips, the City also has a multitude of programs through its Energy Smart Plus (e+) initiative to promote energy conservation and efficiency designed to help citizens use less electricity and lower their bills. These programs include:
ceiling insulation grants
energy efficient appliance rebates
free home energy audits
low interest energy efficiency loan programs
natural gas appliance rebates
The City of Tallahassee’s Electric Utility has not set a record system peak load so far this week, though it came close on Wednesday, June 17, when a peak load of 618 megawatts (mw) was recorded between 4 and 6 p.m. The record summer peak load of 621 mw was set on Aug. 8, 2007.
High electric demands were not a factor in yesterday morning’s power outage on the west side of Tallahassee that impacted approximately 15,000 customers. That outage was due to an equipment malfunction and fire that was quickly contained. The outage occurred at 6:02 a.m., and service was restored to all customers by 7:13 a.m.
Despite high demands for electric power, however, Your Own Utilities has more than an adequate supply of power reserves to meet current needs. Both of the City’s major power plants utilize generating units that employ the most efficient technology in the industry and are able to produce electric supplies to meet high loads such as this week’s heat-induced demands.
For more information on these and other energy efficiency programs, City Electric Utility customers may contact Your Own Utilities at 891-4YOU (4968) or visit the City’s website at Talgov.com/YOU.