AMHERST, N.Y. (WKBW) — Around 6,000 National Grid customers in Snyder, Amherst, Eggertsville and in an area near Buffalo VA Medical Center are being asked to curtail their electricity use as crews work to repair equipment at substations in the area.
National Grid originally requested that customers cut back on using electricity until 10 p.m. Tuesday, officials are now asking customers to continue to reduce electricity use Wednesday.
Some tips from National Grid to cut back on energy use include;
• During daylight hours, draw blinds, shades, drapes to prevent the sun from making your home too hot.
• Control your home’s temperature with a smart thermostat – Whether you’re on vacation or on the go, a Wi-Fi enabled thermostat allows you to control your home’s temperature from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Customers can use the technology to preset and adjust temperatures remotely, which could help lower energy bills by up to $180 a year.
• Slightly increase air conditioner settings, change filters – The lower you set your air conditioner temperatures, the more costly it is to operate. For example, a 75-degree setting will cost about 18 percent more than a 78 degree setting. Be sure to choose a temperature that doesn’t compromise your comfort. Also, check your window air conditioner filter and replace or clean it if it is clogged. If your home has central air conditioning, check the furnace filter and replace it if it’s dirty.
• Temporarily turn off your pool pump – Pool pumps are one of the largest consumers of household energy, second only to the air conditioning unit.
• Use oscillating fans, which consume less energy than air conditioners.
• Delay the use of hot water appliances like dishwashers and washing machines.
• Turn off lights when they are not needed.
• Unplug electronics to reduce phantom load – Phantom load refers to the way electricity is drawn from electronic and electric devices when they are turned off. An advanced power strip on your entertainment system can turn off power to peripheral devices, reducing phantom load all year long, and saving up to $60 annually.
