IID experiences record electrical demand during heat wave

EL CENTRO — As Mother Nature turns up the thermostat on Imperial Valley, many residents are turning down theirs, something that led to record electrical demand Monday on the local power grid. A demand for even more juice was expected Tuesday, according to the Imperial Irrigation District.

Energy demand on the IID system reached 1,052 megawatts between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Monday, with power planners anticipating usage in excess of 1,069 megawatts Tuesday and 1,064 megawatts today.

One megawatt is enough energy to power approximately 850 homes, said Marion Champion, IID media communications o cer, on Tuesday.

To put the record peak load into perspective, “our January 2017 average peak load was 348 megawatts, and our July 2017 average peak load was 884 megawatts,” Champion said.

Heat wave to blame

Like much of the state and Southwest, the Imperial and Coachella valleys are in the midst of an intense summer heat wave, brought on by a high-pressure system presiding over the Four Corners region.

The heat wave is to blame for the surge in electrical usage as residents turn down their thermostats to find relief from the scorching temperatures, Champion said.

An excessive heat warning remains in effect through 8 p.m. Thursday. During the heat advisory, high temperatures of 114 to 119 degrees are expected across the lower deserts, with little overnight relief as temperatures dip only slightly to lows between 82 and 92 degrees, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Energy conservation urged

So far, the IID power grid has been up to the challenge, but officials ask consumers to conserve electricity as much as possible.

“IID has adequate power supplies to meet its demand, but asks customers to conserve energy to ease strain on the electric grid and maintain reliability of the system,” said Henry Martinez, manager of IID’s energy department.

During the summer, IID advises customers to conserve energy by setting thermostats at 78 degrees or higher, turning off lights and fans when leaving a room and giving major appliances a break during the peak energy hours of 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Tips for energy conservation

IID recommends the following actions for conserving power:

• Block the sun from overheating your home. Inside, use shades, blinds and drapes. Outside, use awnings, trees and shrubs.

• Plug electronics into a power strip. Turn the strip off when not in use.

• Use the power management settings on computers and monitors.

• Replace your five most-used light fixtures and/or bulbs with ENERGY STAR® products.

• Change or clean your air conditioner’s filter at least once a month to keep your system running at peak performance.

Customers are invited to download the IID Customer Connect mobile application or visit www. iid.com/summer for additional tips and information on IID energy efficiency programs.