July 5, 2024 3:40 a.m.

As Oregon is in its first heatwave of the season, Pacific Power is encouraging customers to conserve energy during peak usage.

A release said the utility relies on a diverse mix of available energy resources to meet peak hour needs during the summer and the company is well positioned to meet summer customer demand.

During hot weather, Pacific Power also takes steps each day to keep electric service reliable for its customers by monitoring daily which substations and circuits have the highest use and addressing any issues immediately.

The demand for energy typically reaches its highest point on a hot summer weekday afternoon, generally from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. when power is needed to operate the summertime irrigation systems and air conditioners.

The release said customers can help decrease the strain on the electrical grid and save on power bills by taking some simple steps to reduce energy usage.

*Limit energy usage between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. whenever possible

*Set the thermostat on central air conditioning at 78 degrees or higher, health permitting

*Turn off lights, computers, televisions and appliances when they are not being used

*Open windows in the cool of the evening and again in the early morning to let cool air in. Use the intake setting on window fans to help bring in even more cool air

*Keep air moving inside the home with ceiling, window, attic and portable fans

For more information about energy and outage preparedness, visit: www.pacificpower.net/Prepare