Heat Wave Calls for Energy Conservation

Demand for electricity continues to grow each year in Ontario. The current heat wave has led to a high consumption of electricity, most notably on July 13 th when an all-time Ontario demand record of 26,160 MW was set.

In order to ease the strain on the Province's power system and ensure continued reliability during these high demand days, we are asking our customers to reduce their electricity consumption where possible, and especially during the peak hours of 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

While electricity is an essential part of our daily lives, there are many things we can do to conserve energy. Some simple suggestions are:

• Turn air conditioners off if practical, and especially when you leave home. If cooling is essential, set your thermostat to 25 degrees Celsius or higher
  
  
• Open windows to draw in naturally cool air and use a fan instead of the air conditioner when possible
  
  
• Close all blinds and drapes on the sunny side of your house or apartment
  
  
• Reduce the use of pool pumps and heaters
  
  
• Reduce lighting levels. Turn lights off when leaving the room
  
  
• Use a microwave or outdoor barbeque for cooking instead of the stove
  
  
• Wash clothes in cold or warm water instead of hot
  
  
• Dry clothes by hanging them outside
  
  
• Open refrigerators and freezers infrequently
  
  
• Don't overfill your refrigerator. Improved air circulation will help it run more efficiently
  
  

For more information, please visit the website of the Ontario Ministry of Energy at www.energy.gov.on.ca.