ST. GEORGE — As a heatwave settles over the region, municipal utility departments and power companies are advising the public to conserve power during the day in order to avoid potential power disruptions.

“With the high demand on the energy grid, it is important for everyone to look for ways to conserve energy and to help keep costs as low as possible,” a post on the Washington City Utah Power Facebook page states.

The National Weather Service out of Salt Lake City issued a warning about a pending heatwave earlier this week with temperatures reaching up to 110 degrees going into the Labor Day weekend. The excessive heat warning covering parts of southwest Utah is projected to last through 8 p.m. Monday.

As a heatwave can cause a spike in power demand as people crank up their air conditioners, there are concerns that the power grid may not be able to handle it and trigger power outages during peak service hours.

Peak hours of electrical use generally span from the early afternoon into the evening.

To avoid power outages during peak service hours, various power companies and municipal utilities have provided energy-saving tips on their social media pages and websites.

In St. George, residents are asked to reduce power use from 4-8 p.m. while Washington City has asked its residents to do the same between 1-9 p.m.

The following tips on saving energy come from the city of St. George’s Energy Services Department, Washington City Power Department and Rocky Mountain Power:

• Set the air conditioning thermostat to 78 degrees and use ceiling and portable fans to help circulate the air and stay comfortable.
• Cook with a grill outside instead of an oven to avoid heating up the inside of your home. Also consider using a microwave or toaster oven if outdoor grilling is not an option.
• Avoid using appliances like dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers during peak use hours. Clothes can also be hung to dry.
• Unplug electrical devices you are not currently using.
• If you have an electrical vehicle, charge it after 9 p.m.
• Keep blinds and curtains closed during the day and open windows during cooler evening hours.

In addition to keeping energy use down, using the above tips can also help reduce energy costs.

While Rocky Mountain Power and the cities have called for energy conservation, Dixie Power announced over social media that it was ready to handle the heat, thanks to the addition of a new power generation station in the Fort Peirce Industrial Park.

“Despite the high temperatures across the country, Dixie Power is prepared to serve its members with reliable power,” the posts states. “We have worked in conjunction with Deseret Power to install additional generation capacity in order to meet the needs of our members. Customers can rest assured that they are in good hands with Dixie Power.”

Tips on how to avoid health problems triggered by excessive heat can be found here.

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