Uniondale, NY - September 3rd, 2014 - PSEG Long Island continues to have enough electric capacity to meet customer demand during this late-season period of high temperatures and high humidity. While there are no capacity concerns, PSEG Long Island is activating its voluntary Thermostat Energy Conservation Program to reduce loading on the system, helping to create savings for customers.
“PSEG Long Island has sufficient supply to meet customer demand,” said Michael Voltz, director of energy efficiency and renewable energy for PSEG Long Island. “By implementing the voluntary program today, we are demonstrating our ability to reduce load on the system and helping to generate savings for customers in the future.”
To limit the impact of hot weather and better manage their usage, PSEG Long Island recommends the following tips for customers:
- Eliminate non-essential electric consumption
- Put air conditioners on timers and don't let them run when not at home
- Set air conditioners at 78 degrees or higher if health allows
- Use fans to circulate cool air, which helps cut air conditioner use
- Set refrigerators and freezers at most efficient temperatures
- Run major appliances such as washers, dryers, dishwashers, and pool pumps in the morning or late evening to avoid peak demand hours of 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
PSEG Long Island’s thermostat program saves participants money this year and potentially lowers customers’ bills next summer. PSEG Long Island’s load forecasts and state-mandated capacity requirements are based on peak-usage levels from previous years. By reducing peak usage this year, it lowers the amount of power to be purchased in advance for next summer.
Approximately 30,000 customers who have elected to participate in this program will experience on- and off-cycling of their central air conditioning systems between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., for 30 minutes at a time. Air conditioner fans will operate continuously to circulate cool air.
The conservation program was last activated on July 18-19, 2013, resulting in about 35 MW of reduction in peak demand each day. Activation also allows PSEG Long Island to fully calculate the program’s capability to reduce demand on peak load days, such as today.
If you have any questions, please call PSEG Long Island’s Thermostat Program Infoline at 1-866-547-2334 or PSEG Long Island’s Energy Efficiency Infoline at 1-800-692-2626." For more information on the program, visit the website.