By Aaron Swaney / Special to The Herald
The extreme heat event that hit the Puget Sound over the weekend was unprecedented. Cities across the region not only smashed previous temperature records, but on Monday, the hottest of the three days, PUD customers used more energy than on any other summer day in the utility’s history.
The temperatures built over the three days, and because overnight lows didn’t allow for buildings and homes to cool down, temps often peaked in the late afternoon and early evening. That meant the PUD had to provide large amounts of energy as customer demand peaked from 4 to 8 p.m. each day, putting strain on the entire electrical system.
This is just the beginning of summer, so more hot days are in store. During hot days, customers can do a lot to conserve energy, helping keep their bills low and the PUD’s system stable. Consider these tips to conserve energy and keep your space comfortable when the mercury spikes on hot summer days:
Wait to wash dishes and laundry. Avoid using your dishwasher or washing machine and dryer until later in the night. Also take a cool shower instead a warm one.
Keep your thermostat at 78 degrees. If you have central air conditioning, turn your thermostat up to 78 degrees when you’re home and 84 degrees when you’re not. You can save 3% to 5% in home cooling costs for every degree you raise it.
Close the blinds. Closing your blinds, shades or curtains on warm days keeps the sun’s rays out and helps keep your home cool. If you have air conditioning, it can also help you save energy, blocking up to 45% of the sun’s warmth.
Use small appliances in the kitchen. While preparing meals, use a crock pot, toaster oven or microwave instead of your full-sized range or oven to keep your home cooler and save energy. These small appliances use only 20% to 50% of the energy needed to cook the same meal on your stove top or oven. Better yet, fire up the grill and take meal prep outside.
The PUD works year-round and invests money in maintenance projects to ensure that its system is strong and reliable during unstable events. In fact, due to the foresight of PUD engineers who designed and built it, the PUD’s system performed very well during the historical heat event.
Hot weather can put a strain on the grid. Outages in the heat are not as common as they are during windstorms, but equipment failure due to extreme temperatures can cause outages. Here’s a list of items to have on hand and tips to ensure you’re safe if the power goes out during an extreme heat event:
■ Make sure you have an emergency kit on hand that includes at least one gallon of water per person, non-perishable and canned foods, a flashlight and a first aid kit. Don’t forget to include food and water for pets.
■ Close blinds and doors to create a comfortable space in your home. Take a cool shower and use an ice pack on your head and neck.
■ Have a Plan B. Prior to the event, prepare a place to go in case your home becomes too hot during an outage. Call a friend or relative to set up a backup plan or research local hotels or community cooling centers.
Planning ahead keeps you and your family safe — and nothing is more important. For more information on preparing for outages, visit www.snopud.com/outages.
Operating since 1949, Snohomish County PUD is a customer-owned, not-for-profit electric and water utility that serves more than 360,000 customers in Snohomish County and Camano Island. For more information on conservation programs, visit www.snopud.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
