DALLAS (1080 KRLD) - The people who run the state's power grid are asking you to turn up the thermostat for the next couple of days
It may be September, but it feels more like the start of August with triple-digit heat expected across all major Texas metro areas through Saturday.
Leslie Sopko with The Electric Reliability Council of Texas says some areas of Texas will see the highest temperatures they've had all summer, and this increases demand on the grid.
She says helping out is easy. "Using fans to make your rooms feel cooler, avoiding the use of large appliances in the afternoon during those peak hours of two to seven PM is very helpful." If you have a pool, turn the pump off during peak hours.
If you cook indoors from 2 to 7 p.m., use a microwave or slow cooker.
Close blinds and drapes during late afternoon.
ERCOT set a new September peak demand record on Tuesday, Sept. 3 when demand reached 68,546 MW between 4 and 5 p.m. This is more than 1,500 MW higher than the previous September record set in 2016.
