PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Utility companies are predicting near-record usage this week as temperatures will soar into the triple digits starting Thursday.
An extreme heat warning will go into effect at noon on Wednesday and last through 8 p.m. on Saturday. AccuWeather said temperatures will reach 96 degrees on Wednesday, with a real feel of 104 degrees, and 102 degrees on Thursday and Friday, with a real feel of 109 degrees. A Code Orange has been declared for Tuesday, and a heat health emergency is in effect.
PJM Interconnection, the regional power grid, predicts that electricity use Thursday afternoon could top its 2006 record of 165,500 megawatts. PJM said it has sufficient resources to meet that demand if generation and transmission perform as expected.
It’s also asking data centers to use backup generators during the extreme weather. At PECO, spokesman Matt Rankin said the utility has been beefing up its infrastructure year-round to prepare for stress on the system.
“Whether that’s poles, wires, transformers — we retire old substations and upgrade them to handle a larger load,” Rankin said.
Rankin advises customers to use ceiling fans, turn off unnecessary lights and keep thermostats at a constant temperature to reduce the impact of the heat wave on their electric bills.
PSE&G said if you have the air conditioning set to 75 degrees, it takes 300% more electricity to cool your home when it’s 95 degrees than when it’s 85 degrees outside.
City celebrations
Some of the big events in the region this week are being cut short because of the heat.
The route for Friday's Salute to Independence Parade is being shortened. Instead of a 2.5-mile route, it'll be just one mile from Independence Hall to City Hall.
And the FIFA Fan Fest at Lemon Hill is adjusting its hours. It'll open four hours later on Thursday (6 p.m. to 10 p.m.) and Friday (5 p.m. to 9 p.m.).
And in Norristown, officials have canceled the Fourth of July Parade due to the excessive heat warning. No other events in the borough have been canceled.
Staying cool
AccuWeather recommends drinking plenty of fluids, staying out of the sun if possible, checking on relatives and neighbors, and wearing lightweight and loose-fitting clothes.
Pools and spraygrounds are open and available to the public. The city also has a list of cooling centers and other heat-related resources on its website.
If your home does not have air conditioning, or you do not have shelter, call 211 or visit your county or state health department website for help.
