Southern California Edison
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Corporate Communications, (626) 302-2255
www.edisonnews.com
SCE Supplies Record Amount of Electricity
Utility reminds customers of the benefits of power
conservation.
ROSEMEAD,
Calif., Aug. 10, 2004–A heat wave and an unprecedented power demand resulted
in Southern California Edison (SCE) supplying a record amount of energy to
its customers today, 20,518 megawatts (MW) of electricity.
California Independent
System Operator (Cal-ISO) and SCE officials reported no major problems securing
generation for customers today.
Additionally, Edison’s transmission and distribution system handled the
high demand for power without any major disruptions.
The new demand peak,
achieved at 4 p.m., eclipsed SCE’s previous record of 20,144 MW set on July 20,
another scorching Tuesday. Statewide, Cal-ISO
reported record statewide electricity usage on Tuesday afternoon, 44,463
MW. A megawatt is a unit of
“instantaneous” power or demand, much as “horsepower” describes the amount of
power an engine can produce at any given time.
A megawatt of power is enough to serve 500 to 1,000 homes at any given
moment.
Today’s record was achieved
as the Cal-ISO, which manages transmission and system
reliability for 75% of the state, encouraged utility customers to “Flex
Your Power Now,” a reference to the recently created energy conservation
program.
SCE again is urging
residential customers to practice energy conservation and take advantage of
cost-saving programs available to them. Some of the energy efficiency programs
currently offered by SCE to help residential customers reduce energy
consumption and save money include:
SCE RECORD USUAGE
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Customers meeting income guidelines
also can qualify for a replacement refrigerator, four free compact fluorescent
light bulbs, or free weatherization services.
For more
information on SCE’s energy efficiency programs, customers can go to
www.sce.com and select “Save Energy & Money” or call 1-800-736-4777
weekdays during business hours. For the
Summer Discount Plan, click the “SDP Splash” button on the sce.com homepage or
call 877-823-8716.
Funding for SCE’s
energy efficiency programs is provided by California utility customers and
administered by SCE within its service area under the auspices of the
California Public Utilities Commission.
Some effective ways
customers can cut their power use, especially during the peak consumption
period of noon to 7 p.m., include:
·
Set air conditioning
thermostats no lower than 78 degrees;
·
Turn off unused appliances and
equipment;
·
Close drapes and blinds to keep
out direct sunlight during hot periods;
·
Use electric fans instead of
air conditioning if practical;
·
Avoid using evaporative coolers
or humidifiers at the same time an air conditioner is running;
·
Operate swimming pool equipment
during early morning and evening hours; and
· Limit the opening and reopening of refrigerators, which are major users of electricity in most homes.
Click here to read additional information about saving energy use.
An Edison International
(NYSE:EIX) company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest
electric utilities, serving a population of more than 12 million via 4.6
million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within central,
coastal and Southern California.