ComEd Customers Used All-Time Power High During Heat Wave

Romeoville area residents had a rough time trying to cool down during . Just how hot was it? 

"Customers were using an all-time high of power," said ComEd spokeswoman Arlana Johnson. "It is the most power used at one time since August 2006."

According to a ComEd news release, customer demand reached an a peak usage milestone late Wednesday afternoon. However, according to Johnson, this intense usage has yet to negatively affect the ComEd power grid.

“Our system is performing really well and we didn't experience any issues," Johnson said. "We put extra crews on notice in case there were any problems. We had 350 crews available, which is 100 more than on a typical summer day."

According to Johnson, a far bigger issue is the damage caused by the recent storms.

"Eight-hundred fifty thousands customers were impacted by the [July 11] storm," Johnson said. "We spent $80 million on that one storm and our annual budget for all storms is $42 million." 

The combination of increased usage and extreme heat, however, does place a high demand on the ComEd electric grid, according to a recent ComEd news release.

Therefore, instead of simply cranking up the air conditioning (and the electric bill) to beat the heat, ComEd energy doctor Tim Melloch recommends customers take the following simple steps:

• Keep thermostats at a constant, comfortable level (75 to 78 degrees) when at home. Lowering the thermostat setting below the desired temperature will not cool the home faster.
• To reduce heat and moisture during the warmest part of the day, run appliances such as ovens, washing machines, dryers and dishwashers in the early morning or evening hours when it’s generally cooler outside. Also, use a microwave to cook, or barbecue outside, if possible.
• Keep shades, blinds and curtains closed. About 40 percent of unwanted heat comes through windows. Simply drawing blinds and curtains, which act as a layer of insulation, can reduce heat gain to your home. Awnings are even better and can reduce heat gain by up to 75 percent. Window coatings and window film can reflect as much as 80 percent of direct rays from the sun.
• Keep doors to the outside, garage or attic firmly closed to keep cool air in and hot air out.
• Use fans to evenly distribute cool air and reduce the air conditioner’s “on” time.
• Place window air conditioners on the north or shady side of the house to avoid overworking the unit in the hot daytime sun.