Bridget Reed Morawski
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON — (WMAL) Temperatures are expected to stay high the next few days throughout the Washington area, and residents could experience power outages as a result.
“We’re expecting mid-ninety degree weather until Saturday,” said Marchus Beal, a spokesman for Pepco. “That can put a strain on the electric system and cause power outages.”
As the temperatures rise, so do customers’ inclinations to crank up the air conditioning. That high demand can put too much pressure on the system, causing outages.
Pepco is preparing for these potential outages with additional field crews on standby to quickly make any needed repairs.
However, residents can reduce energy consumption, and their risk of an outage, by taking a few basic precautions, according to Beal. Proper air conditioning unit maintenance, like cleaning air filters and unblock air ducts, allows cool air to circulate freely, which in turn results in less energy used to make your home more comfortable.
Keeping doors and windows shut while using an air conditioning unity also facilitates energy savings.
If you do experience an outage, don’t investigate it yourself. Pepco says it wants customers to report outages to them right away and to stay away from downed power lines.
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