Emergency Tips to Reduce Electricity

Summer

Tips to reduce your electricity use in an emergency:

• SWEPCO stresses that customers should use electricity needed for personal safety and to protect against property damage, but minor adjustments to thermostats and other measures can make a significant difference to the electric system.
• Set your thermostat at 80 degrees if health allows, and make similar adjustments to window units. Also set programmable thermostats to higher temperatures when no one is home.
• Use portable or ceiling fans to circulate air and reduce the amount of air conditioning needed.
• Turn off unnecessary lights, appliances and equipment, unless needed for health and safety.
• Limit use of large appliances (such as dishwashers, washers, dryers, ovens), or wait until later in the day – after 7 p.m. – so the heat and humidity they create will put less strain on your air conditioning.
• Businesses should minimize the use of lighting and electric equipment as much as possible.
• Large consumers of electricity should consider reducing or shutting down non-essential production processes.
• Your assistance by temporarily reducing your use of electricity – especially during the peak hours from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. – should help SWEPCO to continue to maintain electric service.

The combined actions of customers can help reduce overall demand for electricity and ease the power grid emergency situation.

Winter

Tips to reduce your electricity use in an emergency:

• SWEPCO stresses that customers should use electricity needed for personal safety and to protect against property damage, but minor adjustments to thermostats and other measures can make a significant difference to the electric system.
• Turn down the thermostat to 68 degrees if health allows (Consider wearing additional layers of clothing to remain comfortable.) Also set programmable thermostats to lower temperatures when no one is home. Avoid the use of electric space heaters.
• Limit use of large appliances (such as dishwashers, washers, dryers).
• Avoid using unnecessary lighting and other electrical devices.
• Open curtains and shades on the sunny side of the house to warm up your home. If there’s no sun, close the curtains and shades to keep warm air inside.
• Close the fireplace damper when not in use to avoid losing heat through the chimney.
• Businesses should minimize the use of lighting and electric equipment as much as possible.
• Large consumers of electricity should consider reducing or shutting down non-essential production processes.

The combined actions of customers can help reduce overall demand for electricity and ease the power grid emergency situation.