June 27, 2022 3:00 a.m.

Officials with Pacific Power say they are preparing for summer’s heat.

A release from the utility said it is preparing to face higher demands on the grid from both record temperatures and increased customer need.

Vice president of operations Erik Brookhouse said, “We’ve taken steps for grid hardening, in particular since last summer, to prevent overloading at the substation level”. Brookhouse said they are confident about their network’s readiness for this summer.

The release said Pacific Power takes steps every day to keep electric service reliable for its customers by monitoring which substations and circuits have the highest use, identifying any potential trouble spots and implementing solutions within a day.

Brookehouse said at the end of each summer, staff reviews how the electrical system performed, and last year identified 49 projects that were completed prior to the 2022 summer season. Examples of projects include:

*Increasing system and distribution capacity

*Installing new equipment such as switches, voltage regulators and transformers

*Balancing and reconfiguring the electrical pathways serving customers in specific areas

Brookehouse said engineers and power system operators keep a close eye on area weather forecasts as well. Electric systems are sensitive to temperature, so that conditions that impact the electric system the most come during consecutive days when 100-degree highs are coupled with nighttime temperatures that do not cool below 70 degrees.

Customers are urged to:

*Keep curtains and blinds closed during the day

*Open windows during cooler evening hours

*Operate the clothes dryer and dishwasher at night

*Set air conditioning to maintain an interior temperature of 78 degrees, but higher when away from home

More electric energy information is available at: www.pacificpower.net