Arizona utilities urge less usage during high temperatures
Independent Newsmedia
Posted 8/19/20
Arizona Public Service, Salt River Project and Tucson Electric Power have asked their customers to conserve electricity during the hours of 3-8 p.m. or 3-9 p.m.
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ENERGY
Arizona utilities urge less usage during high temperatures
Posted
Independent Newsmedia
The record-breaking heatwave in the western U.S. this week pushed Arizona Public Service to ask customers to voluntarily conserve as little electricity as possible from 3-8 p.m.
The advisory was in effect Tuesday and Wednesday. However, officials usually encourage energy conservation during that peak usage time period.
THANK YOU! Because of your efforts yesterday, there was a noticeable drop in energy usage, and we ask you to please help again today. We have the resources we need to continue providing you power, but we are asking for your help as a precaution. Visit https://t.co/N0Y6xiMgHD. pic.twitter.com/RW6Aqlx64h
With the entire western U.S. experiencing extreme temperatures, demand for electricity may approach the full capacity of supply available, which is why each customer taking steps to use less power will make a difference toward preventing service interruptions, according to APS.
While it may be an inconvenience, APS suggests that customers:
Raise thermostat settings to no lower than 80 degrees;
Turn off extra lights and avoid use of discretionary major appliances such as clothes washers, dryers and dishwashers; and
Avoid operation of pool pumps.
Tucson Electric Power on Tuesday also asked customers to conserve energy during those peak times. Salt River Project followed suit on Wednesday, especially as it pertained to the fight against the Salt Fire in the Tonto National Forest.
Smoke from the Salt Fire burning near Roosevelt Lake is threatening power lines that bring energy to the Valley. To ensure there is enough power, we are asking our customers to reduce their electricity use from 3-9 p.m. https://t.co/6YFVLzDcqJ
The wildfire has caused a large, eastern Arizona transmission line to go out of service, according to an SRP release. The line brings energy to many Valley-based SRP customers.
The balance of SRP’s system is currently operating normally, however, the loss of this transmission line could result in SRP not having sufficient power to meet high customer demand during record-hot temperatures, the release states. SRP is attempting to secure additional energy capacity to replace the impacted transmission line. However, high demand for energy across the western U.S. has resulted in limited available supplies.
It is unknown when SRP will be able to reenergize the impacted transmission line without additional service outages due to smoke and the unpredictability of the wildfire, as well as limited available resources to fight the fire, according to the release.
To avoid potential rotating outages, SRP is asking its customers to reduce their energy use Wednesday from 3-9 p.m. Rotating outages happen when energy capacity does not meet customer energy demand, the release states.
On July 30, APS customers set a record peak demand for electricity of 7,659 megawatts, eclipsing the previous record of 7,363 megawatts set in June 2017, according to the comany's release.
APS is Arizona’s largest electric utility, serving nearly 1.2 million customers in 11 of 15 counties.
