Conserve Electricity this winter even in Record Cold

A new winter usage peak of 20,246 megawatt-hours was set Tuesday morning by customers of Duke Energy Carolinas. That exceeded the previous winter record set in December of 2010.  With those figures in mind, the power provider is asking customers to conserve electricity, explains Duke Energy spokesperson Kristen Pulley.  “One of the main things we suggest is to set your thermostat 10 to 15 degrees below what you typically set it at and of course that means it will be cooler in the home, so dress accordingly.  Make sure to use ceiling fans and point them in the opposite direction that you typically would because that helps create warmer air in the home.  Also try to insulate any cracks or crevasses that you may have in your home.” Duke Energy recommends selecting a comfortable setting on your thermostat when at home and turn it down a degree or two if you leave for an extended period. Customers are also asked to leave drapes or blinds open to allow the sun’s rays to warm the house.