Consumers Energy Asks Electric Customers To Reduce Power Use Until Heat Wave Lifts
July 31 2006 - 7:26PM
PR Newswire (US)
JACKSON, Mich., July 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Consumers Energy
is asking its 1.8 million electric customers to reduce their power
use until the end of the heat wave now affecting Michigan and the
rest of the Midwest. The high temperatures and steamy humidity
pushed the customer demand for electricity to record levels across
the region, including on Consumers Energy's system. Customer demand
for power on the utility's system reached an all-time record high
of 8,790 megawatts from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. today. That eclipsed the
previous record of 8,474 megawatts set on Aug. 3, 2005. The heat
wave and heavy air conditioning demand is expected to continue in
Michigan until Thursday, when cooler temperatures are forecast to
arrive. Until then, Consumers Energy is asking its electric
customers to reduce their power use to help maintain the stability
of the electric system. Consumers Energy asks customers to take the
following steps: * Raise the temperature setting on air
conditioning thermostats by several degrees. A setting of 78
degrees provides comfort and energy efficiency. * Use the clothes
washer, clothes dryer, dishwasher, electric oven, and any other
high-consumption electric appliances early in the morning or after
8 p.m. * Open the refrigerator or freezer as little as possible. *
Turn off all unnecessary lights and non-essential appliances during
the day. * Close off air ducts to rooms which are not used. Close
window curtains and drapes to reduce solar heating. * If you have a
well pump, don't water lawns. Additional tips on reducing
electricity use are available at a "Beat the Heat" banner on the
Consumers Energy's website: http://www.consumersenergy.com/.
Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides
natural gas and electricity to nearly 6.5 million of Michigan's 10
million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. DATASOURCE:
Consumers Energy CONTACT: Jeff Holyfield, +1-517-788-2394, Dan
Bishop, +1-517-788-2395, or Terry DeDoes, +1-517-374-2159, all of
Consumers Energy Web site: http://www.consumersenergy.com/ Company
News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/203850.html
Copyright