O&R Issues Heat Watch

Orange & Rockland Utilities knows its customers are feeling the heat Tuesday.

With residents heavily using their air conditioning due to temperatures in the upper '80s, O&R issued its first Heat Watch advisory of 2012.

With a Heat Watch in effect, O&R's distribution system engineers closely monitor equipment to discover heat-related issues, allowing potential problems to be addressed quickly.

O&R also sends out a public advisor with suggestions for customors to use electricity more effectively in the heat.

The energy conservation tips are as follows:

• Set the thermostat of your central air conditioner at 78 degrees F or higher to achieve maximum savings on your cooling costs.  Setting the room temperature on the air conditioner at 75 degrees costs about 15 percent more. A 72-degree setting costs about 30 percent more than the 78-degree setting.
• If you have a room air conditioner, close off the rooms not being used; if you have central air, block off the vents for unused rooms.
• Plan cooking, baking or other household activities that produce heat and humidity for the cooler times of the day and night.
• Use a portable or ceiling fan to circulate the pre-cooled air in your air conditioned home. A fan uses about 90 percent less energy than an air conditioner.
• Adjust your air conditioner’s fan to a low setting. It’ll take longer for the air conditioner to cool your home, but your unit will bring in steamy air at a slower rate and make you feel more comfortable.
• As the sun moves from east to west during the day, pull your curtains and shades on windows to block out the heat.

O&R also offered these suggestions for refrigerator use:

• Maintain a constant temperature in the refrigerator of between 36 and 38 degrees for maximum effectiveness. The freezer should be kept at 15 degrees.
• Cover liquid items. They give off humidity that forces the refrigerator to use more energy.
• Place the most used items in one place so that the door will be open for a shorter period of time.

Customers who experience electrical service interruptions can call O&% at 1-877-434-4100.