JCP&L Offers Electricity Use Tips for the Upcoming Heat Wave

Published on June 28, 2018

With the with summer's first heat wave moving in on New Jersey and Morris County from the Midwest, Jersey Central Power & Light is offering some hot weather tips that customers can follow to stay comfortable while using electricity wisely during what is expected to be a period of high power demand:(JPG, 8KB)

€¢ Set thermostats as high as comfort will allow. Every degree a customer can increase the temperature in a home will result in using about 3 percent less energy during the hottest summer days.

€¢ During sunny weather, close drapes or blinds on windows facing the sun to prevent direct radiant heating from impacting interior temperatures.

€¢ Use fans €“ moving air cools skin faster, resulting in greater comfort on hot days.

(JPG, 109KB)€¢ Use a programmable thermostat to keep temperatures higher when no one is home, and to reduce the temperature before arrival back home.

€¢ Only operate window air conditioners when someone is in the room.

€¢ Keep refrigerators and freezers as full as possible. Frozen or cold items in the refrigerator help keep other items cool, reducing the amount of work the refrigerator has to do to maintain a lower temperature.

€¢ Close rooms that aren't used regularly during the summer, and close the air conditioning vents in those rooms, as well.

€¢ Avoid using heat-producing appliances during the hottest hours of the day. The less heat produced at home, the less work the air conditioner will do.

€¢ Check air conditioner and furnace fan filters. Clogged filters waste energy and money by forcing HVAC systems to work harder than necessary.

In addition, if summer storms result in downed wires it is important to avoid the area and immediately call JCP&L. If you see a downed power line, always assume it is live and dangerous and follow these steps. Report downed power lines immediately by calling 1-888-LIGHTSS (888-544-4877). Extra caution should be exercised in areas where downed wires may be tangled in downed tree branches or other debris.