Sierra Pacific Power Company today set a record system electric peak of 1,743 megawatts* at 5 p.m., breaking the previous all-time record of 1,740 megawatts set on July 18, 2005. Electric demand reached 1,701 megawatts in 2006.

Increases in demand can be attributed to record temperatures in Sierra Pacific Power's service area, which includes most of northern Nevada and the Lake Tahoe area of California. Sierra Pacific Power has more than 361,000 electric customers today compared with approximately 353,000 customers two years ago.

*One megawatt will power approximately 600 households.

HOT WEATHER TIPS
(more tips are onSierra Pacific's website)

Listed below are a few of Sierra Pacific Power's tips for staying comfortable when daytime temperatures soar into the triple digits. These tips can also help customers hold down their monthly electricity costs.

• Dress appropriately. Loose fitting clothes, open collars and open- weave materials allow your body heat to escape. Natural fibers, such as cotton, work better than synthetics in absorbing perspiration and allowing it to evaporate.
• Keep the air circulating. Even a small portable fan can make you more comfortable at a very low energy cost. An electric fan is much less expensive to run than an air conditioner.
• Set the controls on your air conditioner between 78 and 80 degrees when at home; 5 to 10 degrees warmer at night or when you're not home.
• If your air conditioning unit is located on the ground, keep the area around it clean and free of obstructions to maintain airflow. Keep the outdoor condenser coils clean and be sure to change your air conditioning filters.
• Turn off lights and appliances when they're not in use, including your computer.
• Close blinds and drapes during the day to keep the heat out.
• Use your dishwasher, washing machine and dryer as late in the evening as possible. Run full loads. Also, use the energy saver feature on your dishwasher, which allows dishes to air dry. When they're on, appliances generate heat. So turning them off may save air conditioning energy.
• Instead of using the stovetop or oven to prepare meals, barbecue outside. By reducing the heat produced in your home by the stove, you will reduce the load on your air conditioner.

Contact: Karl Walquist (media)
775-834-3891 -- 775-771-3891 (mobile)

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