With Georgia temperatures breaking records Jackson EMC said Thursday that the cooperative's customers are also breaking energy consumption records.
According to a press release, demand for electricity from Jackson EMC's customers reached 1,345 megawatts between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Wednesday. The previous record of 1,293 megawatts was set during a January 2014 winter polar vortex.
“Our power distribution system performed well under this week’s higher-than-normal demand for electricity,” said Jonathan Weaver, Jackson EMC’s director of system engineering. “We’re prepared for higher demand periods and we didn’t experience any issues with this new record. We’ll continue to keep a close eye on our system as extremely high temperatures are expected to continue into next week.”
Through Jackson EMC's voluntary "load management program" the cooperative aims to decrease peak demands during the hottest days. Customers can choose to enroll in the program which "briefly cycles off residential and commercial members' equipment, such as air conditioners and heat pumps," the press release stated.
You can find more tips below:
Stay Cool for Less
- Set your thermostat to 78 degrees. Nearly half of the electricity used in homes goes to condition the air inside.
- Don't turn off the air conditioner when you're gone; instead set it higher. Turning it off makes the system work harder to overcome the heat built up in a house when you turn it back on.
- Use a programmable thermostat. Set it to bring your home's temperature down to 78 degrees 30 minutes before you get home.
- Replace air conditioner filters now, then once a month. The dirtier the filter, the harder your heat pump must work.
- Lamps, televisions or anything that creates heat needs to be kept away from the thermostat, as they will impact its accuracy.
- Don't block vents with furniture or other objects.
- Use ceiling fans when you are in a room to provide additional comfort; they also provide better circulation, which reduces air conditioning costs.
- Trim foliage around the air conditioning condenser to allow adequate airflow around the unit.
Reduce Heat Inside
- Restrict use of heat-producing appliances like ovens, dishwashers and dryers to the early morning or late evening when temperatures are cooler outdoors.
- Grill outside or use a microwave or toaster oven. A toaster oven uses one-third to one-half as much energy as a regular oven and releases less heat into the home.
- Turn off heat-generating devices when not in use — including lamps, televisions and computers.
- On warm days, close blinds and drapes, especially in south or west-facing windows which allow in the most heat.
Cut Energy Use Everywhere Else
- Activate “sleep” features on computers and office equipment that power down when the equipment is not in use.
- Do full loads when you use clothes washers, dryers and dishwashers.
- Use dimmers, timers and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting.
- Replace lightbulbs with LED bulbs, which burn longer and produce less heat.
Plan Long-term
- Plant deciduous trees to shade the south or west side of your house.
- Insulate floors, walls and attics to keep cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
- Get your air conditioner tuned-up. Consider a maintenance contract that provides a checkup twice a year, prior to peak cooling and heating seasons.
- If your HVAC unit is 10 years old or more, consider replacing it. Newer models are more energy-efficient and may lower your electric bill. Jackson EMC offers rebates and low-interest loans for qualifying members. More details about these programs are available at www.jacksonemc.com/rebates.
For more money-saving tips, check out the list at www.jacksonemc.com/waystosave.
