July 21, 2006
ROSEMEAD, Calif., July 21, 2006 – Southern California Edison (SCE) supplied a record amount of electricity to its customers this afternoon, 22,622 megawatts (MW) of power delivered at 4 p.m., surpassing the previous record of 21,934 MW supplied on July 21, 2005. One megawatt equals one million watts, enough power to supply approximately 650 homes.
The tremendous demand for electricity is being attributed to increased air conditioner use brought on by residual heat built up over several days, higher than normal humidity, and an unusual weather pattern heating up coastal California communities and much of the nation.
The California Independent System Operator, which manages transmission and system reliability for 75% of the state, and SCE reported no major problems securing generation for customers today. SCE’s transmission and distribution system handled the record demand for power without any major disruptions.
SCE again is encouraging residential customers to practice energy conservation and take advantage of cost-saving programs available to them. 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.
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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 4.7 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within central, coastal and Southern California.
