Photo: Air conditioning units use a great amount of electricity.
The summer’s first official heat wave – three consecutive days of 90-plus degree temperatures – is expected to put a mighty mechanical and monetary strain on Belmont Light, the town’s utility.
In anticipation of Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 17-18, being high electricity usage days, Sagewell, Inc. –the Woburn-based administrator of Belmont Light Energy Efficiency – is asking its 11,000 customers to help Belmont save energy and money by reducing their electricity consumption on the first two days of the week between 3 p.m.and 6 p.m.
Electricity cut during peak times helps Belmont mitigate rising utility costs, according to Sagewell.
“Nearly one-third of your electric bill is for the cost of procuring sufficient capacity for peak days and these costs are continuing to increase for all utilities across New England,” Sagewell notes.
Here are some tips to reduce Belmont peak electricity consumption:
● Adjust air conditioners between four p.m. and 6 p.m. and turn off the AC in rooms that are not used. Adjusting the thermostat even by 2-3 degrees helps.
● Use a microwave oven or an outdoor grill instead of a stove or a regular oven.
● Shift laundry and dishwasher use to after 6 p.m.
● Shift other electricity use to before 3 p.m. or after 6 p.m.
Residents and businesses with questions or would like advice on how to decrease peak energy consumption, feel free to contact Sagewell at support@sagewell.com or by calling 617-963-8141.
A big thank you to all the customers in town who have installed solar panels! They will be reducing their own demand as well as sending extra electricity onto Belmont Light’s grid during this time of peak town-wide demand, saving all of us money by decreasing the amount of expensive peak power Belmont Light must purchase.