NEWARK, N.J., June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- As temperatures rise this
week, PSE&G is ready to meet increasing customer demand for the
electricity its customers need to stay cool and comfortable.
The company has an adequate supply of power to meet customer
needs and its system is operating normally.
PSE&G works diligently throughout the year to prepare for
summer's heat and humidity by reinforcing equipment and making
system upgrades. The company has consistently been rated the
nation's most reliable electric utility for its ability to keep the
lights on and restore service quickly should outages occur.
Customers can take the following steps to stay comfortable and
control energy costs:
- Use ceiling fans in the counter-clockwise direction to create a
wind-chill effect, making it feel cooler. Also, whole-house fans
that bring in cooler night-time air can pre-cool a house and reduce
energy use in the daytime if heat is kept out by closing windows
and shades.
- Install a programmable thermostat. If health conditions
permits, raise the setting from 73 to 78 degrees. Customers can
save 3 to 5 percent on air conditioning costs for each degree the
thermostat is raised.
- Close doors leading to uncooled parts of the home. If the house
uses central air conditioning, close off vents to unused rooms.
Keep filters clean.
- Seal holes and cracks around doors and windows. Eliminate air
leaks between window air conditioners and windows with foam
insulation or weather-stripping.
- Turn off power sources. TVs, computers and other electronic
devices draw power when they are in standby mode or turned off but
still plugged in. Plug electronics into power strips and turn off
the power switch when the items are not in use.
- Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), which use 75
percent less electricity and burn more coolly than incandescent
bulbs. Keep in mind that CFLs are especially handy in hard-to-reach
fixtures and won't need to be replaced for about five years.
- Use timers and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor
lighting.
- Delay heat-producing tasks such as laundry until later in the
day. Wash full loads, using cold water whenever possible.
- Run the dishwasher at night, using the shortest cycle that will
get the dishes clean. If manufacturers' directions permit,
turn the dishwasher off before the dry cycle or use the air dry
feature if the machine has one.
- Replace old appliances with new energy efficient Energy Star
appliances.
- Unplug any extra refrigerators and use them only when
necessary. Refrigerators that are only 10 years old can use twice
as much electricity as new Energy Star labeled models.
PSE&G customers can view additional ways to save money in
their homes by visiting PSEG's YouTube channel at
www.youtube.com/psegvideo and at www.pseg.com.
Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) is
New Jersey's oldest and largest
regulated gas and electric delivery utility, serving nearly
three-quarters of the state's population. PSE&G is the
winner of the ReliabilityOne Award for superior electric system
reliability. PSE&G is a subsidiary of Public Service
Enterprise Group Incorporated (PSEG) (NYSE: PEG), a diversified
energy company (www.pseg.com).
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SOURCE Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G)