FirstEnergy and PJM ask customers to conserve electricity
Guidance from grid operator predicts high electric demand today amid extreme cold
NEW JERSEY – Utility officials are asking people to cut back on electric use to help conserve supply.
Due to the continuing frigid weather impacting FirstEnergy’s service territory along with much of the country, PJM Interconnection, the electric grid operator for the region, is asking that customers take steps to conserve electricity through 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 25.
FirstEnergy offers the following tips to help conserve the use of electricity:
- If health permits, set thermostats at a lower temperature than usual.
- Turn off non-essential appliances, equipment and electric lights – including holiday lights – that you do not need or are not using.
- Postpone using major electric household appliances, such as stoves, dishwashers and clothes dryers.
- Close curtains and blinds to retain warm air inside homes.
Demand for electricity is expected to increase through the day as the cold temperatures continue and families gather to celebrate Christmas, PJM said.
PJM will continue to monitor conditions and will take additional actions if necessary, which may include the potential for short, rotating customer outages. Taking action to conserve energy now can help offset the need for additional actions later, PJM said.
“PJM thanks customers for their ongoing efforts to conserve electricity, particularly during the holiday season when many are gathering. While PJM will do everything in its power to prevent rotating outages, the risk is real and we ask consumers to continue conservation efforts,” PJM said in a tweet.
