JACKSON, Mich., Aug. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The heat wave is
pushing customer demand for electricity toward record levels for the third
straight day in the Midwest, prompting the region's power coordinator to
issue an energy alert for today.
Consumers Energy and other Midwest utilities are asking customers to
take immediate steps today to reduce their use of electricity and to
conserve power until the heat wave lifts.
Even with customer conservation, the demand for power on the Consumers
Energy system has set back-to-back records, an all-time high of 8,994
megawatts on Tuesday, eclipsing the previous record of 8,790 megawatts set
on Monday.
The region's electric power coordinator, the Midwest Independent
Transmission System Operator (MISO), issued an Energy Emergency Alert Level
2 today for the second day in a row. MISO is the power coordinator for 15
Midwest states and the province of Manitoba.
At noon today, customer demand for electricity on the Consumers Energy
system was approaching record levels.
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 the "Heat
Alert" banner on the Consumers Energy 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.
SOURCE Consumers Energy
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Related links:
http://www.consumersenergy.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/203850.html /
CONTACT:
Jeff Holyfield, +1-517-788-2394, Dan Bishop,
+1-517-788-2395, Tim Pietryga, +1-616-530-4364, or Terry DeDoes,
+1-517-374-2159, all of Consumers Energy
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