The high heat and humidity puts a strong demand on the regional power system. Anything we can do to reduce electric consumption helps us — and everyone in the region — avoid power interruptions.

To avoid power interruptions, here's what you can do:

  

At home

• Postpone using major electric appliances such as stoves, dishwashers and clothes dryers until the cooler evening hours.
• Turn off non-essential electric appliances and equipment.
• Use a power strip for non-essential items and turn it off when they are not in use. 
• Use window blinds to block direct sunlight.
• Adjust your thermostat.  Turn your thermostat up two degrees.  And when you leave for work or go out of town, turn your thermostat up.  You can even install a programmable thermostat and program the temperature to automatically adjust to your schedule.
• Sign up for Dominion Virginia Power's Smart Cooling Rewards program.  Get $40 a year to let Dominion have limited control to cycle on/off your AC compressor to reduce peak demand.  

In the office

• Turn off lights wherever possible, including in corridors and unused meeting rooms, and overhead lights if practical. (In addition to the power used, lights produce heat, adding to the air conditioning burden.)
• Actively turn off computers and monitors not in use. (The "sleep" mode is good, but the "off" mode is better!).  
• Use window blinds to block direct sunlight.
• Turn off radios, coffee pots, and personal fans when not in use.
• Portable space heaters should not be used for local temperature control. If your office is too cold, call the building's Facilities Maintenance. A space heater can cause a thermostat to think the space is too warm, which would send even more cooling to the area.