As Temperatures Rise, Tri-State Area Utilities Urge Customers To Conserve Energy

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Utilities across the Tri-State area are assuring customers they're ready for what could be the start of the first heat wave of the summer.

Power usage is expected to rise with the temperature, but Con Ed spokesman Mike Clendenin does not expect record demand this week.

"We certainly have adequate supplies to meet this week's forecast," he told WCBS 880's Peter Haskell. "We're ready."

PSEG Long Island has a surplus of capacity thanks to recent investments in the system, but spokesperson Elizabeth Flagler cautions there could still be power outages.

"The heat can cause outages, which doesn't mean we do not have enough capacity, just the overheating of the transformers or the wires," Flagler said. "We have plenty of crews on and will respond as quickly as possible to restore power."

Customers are being urged to do their part and conserve energy.

One of the easiest ways to do that is to close shades and blinds to limit heat build-up and preserve cooled air.

"Make sure the sun isn't baking your apartment or your home all day long," Clendenin said. "Many people say that for every degree you go lower on your air conditioner you're raising your bill about 6 percent."

Clendenin also suggests investing in energy efficient devices, including a smart air conditioner.

"You can control it from your computer so that you can turn your air conditioner on a little bit before you get home," he said.

Frank Poirot, spokesman for Eversource in Connecticut, says getting a fan will also help.

"Just moving air conditioned air around the room will get more efficient use out of the output of your air conditioner, and even if you don't have an air conditioner, a fan is always a good thing to have to keep the air moving around," he said.

Customers are also advised to run household appliances including dishwashers and dryers at night.