July 20, 2005

ROSEMEAD, Calif., July 20, 2005 – Southern California Edison (SCE) supplied a record amount of electricity to its customers this afternoon, 21,110 megawatts (MW) of power delivered at 4 p.m., easily surpassing the previous record of 20,762 MW supplied on Sept. 10, 2004.  One megawatt is 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 more than a week, higher than normal humidity, and an unusual weather pattern heating up coastal communities more than normal for this time of year.

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 13 million via 4.6 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within central, coastal and Southern California.