The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is asking state residents to limit their use of electricity over the holiday weekend.
PUC said the call comes from the power grid operator for the mid-Atlantic region - PJM Interconnection. There are around 65 million people who consume PJM electricity.
The PUC says the request is a result of the extremely cold temperatures happening around the area, saying the cold weather is expected to increase the demand for electricity across the area.
The electricity reduction is asked to happen between 4 am. and 10 a.m. Sunday.
PUC said some of the conservation tricks people could follow are:
- Setting thermostats lower than usual, if health permits,
- Postponing use of major electric appliances such as stoves, dishwashers, and clothes dryers until other times, and,
- Turning off non-essential electric lights, equipment and appliances.
PUC said, customers should follow these tricks only if their health allows them to do so.
The commission also shared a few different tricks for customers to stay comfortable during the cold weather.
Those tips are:
- Keep doors and windows closed as much as possible, including garage doors.
- Close doors to unused rooms and turn down the heat in those spaces.
- Ensure air vents are not blocked in spaces you are using, to help the flow of heat.
- Close curtains, drapes and blinds at night to help keep the heat in.
- Close doors to unused rooms and turn down the heat in those spaces.
- Ensure air vents are not blocked in spaces you are using, to help the flow of heat.
- Close curtains, drapes and blinds at night to help keep the heat in.
The request for conservation is in effect for 12 other states and Washington D.C.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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