New York Public Utility Sets Record Electric Use as Heat Wave Continues

New York electric utility Consolidated Edison Company (Con Ed) reported breaking its own record for electric consumption as customers in its service territory turned on their air conditioners to beat back a heatwave that baked much of the country. Con Ed is one of the nation’s largest electric companies and includes almost all of New York City and most of Westchester County.

Electric consumption in Con Ed’s service territory peaked at 13,189 megawatts late afternoon on Friday, July 22, breaking the old weekday record of 13,149 megawatts set on Aug. 2, 2006. On Saturday, Con Ed also reported a peak electric consumption of 11,533 megawatts, breaking its previous weekend day record set on July 24, 2010.

In all, Con Ed reported that its customers used 1 trillion watt-hours over a four-day period last week, which the public utility said was about the same amount of electricity Vermont uses in two months.

Public utilities in Illinois and Pennsylvania also reported record electric use last week due to broiling temperatures. Chicago’s Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) reported an all-time high late Wednesday of 23,753 megawatts, which broke its previous record of 23,618 megawatts set on Aug. 1, 2006. Philadelphia’s PECO Energy Company (PECO) reported an all-time high late Thursday of 8,943 megawatts, which broke its previous record of 8,932, also set in Aug. 2006.

Sources

“ComEd Sets New Peak in Demand,” Commonwealth Edison Co. press release, July 21, 2011.

“PECO Breaks Power Usage Record Amid High Heat, “WPVI-TV, July 22, 2011.

“Deaths Tied to Heat: 64 People, Thousands of Cattle,” MSNBC, July 27, 2011.