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As Heat Wave Continues, LADWP Asks Customers to Conserve Energy Where Possible

As Heat Wave Continues, LADWP Asks
Customers to Conserve Energy Where Possible
LOS ANGELES — With hot temperatures expected to continue this week in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) asks customers to conserve energy use where possible, especially between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., while staying safe.

Energy demand in Los Angeles has pushed up to a high range this week – averaging in the upper 5,000 megawatt range—with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees in parts of the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys.  LADWP’s all-time high energy demand was 6,177 megawatts, recorded on September 27, 2010.

Despite the high temperatures, which can put increased pressure on electrical infrastructure, the LADWP system has functioned well and power outages have been minimal. However, hot weather can lead to outages—and for a variety of reasons. The heat not only leads to more people operating their air conditioners all at once but also causes other appliances to work harder in order to perform. This puts strain and stress on electrical infrastructure and can overburden power lines, transformers and other equipment, causing them to fail. It can also trigger substation circuit breakers or other electrical equipment that is designed to protect the system to shut down automatically before serious damage occurs.

In the event of a power failure, customers are urged to report the outage immediately by calling 1 (800) DIAL DWP to ensure that LADWP crews are dispatched to the area. If outages increase significantly, updates will be posted at www.ladwpnews.com or follow LADWP on Twitter @ladwp.com.

To help reduce energy use, LADWP recommends the following as highly effective conservation measures:

  • Adjust thermostat to 78 degrees to reduce energy usage during the hottest hours of the day when air conditioning systems have to work hardest to cool.
  • Limit the use of appliances during peak hours of the day- use washing machines, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners and other heavy appliances during evening hours.
  • Close draperies, shades or blinds during the heat of the day to reduce the extra heat from direct sunlight.
  • Ventilate your home by opening windows and doors to clear out the heat and allow cooler air to circulate.
  • Turn off lights and equipment when they are not in use.
  • Unplug “energy vampires” like cell phone chargers, DVD players, microwave ovens and other appliances that use energy even when turned off or in sleep mode.