This week’s drop in temperature marks one of the first real cold snaps this winter. Piedmont Electric urges everyone to be mindful of both power usage and safety during frigid weather.
In the wake of an arctic cold front this afternoon, blustery northwesterly winds (15 to 20 MPH) will usher in bitter cold air into central North Carolina. The combination of these winds and cold temperatures into the single digits to low teens will produce wind chills below zero tonight through Thursday morning. Be sure to take precautions if you must venture outdoors; unprotected skin may be injured by frost bite and lead to hypothermia. Extra layers of clothing will be necessary to stay warm and safe from the cold.
In anticipation of the unseasonably cold weather affecting our area from Thursday morning through Friday morning please be aware that these extreme temperatures will result in higher electricity usage from our members as well as all users of electricity in North Carolina. The colder the outdoor temperature, the greater the heat loss from inside the home and the longer your heating system must operate to maintain your level of comfort.
While we do not anticipate any power supply problems due to this extreme weather we would like to ask our members to take voluntary energy conservation steps from Thursday morning through Friday morning. Follow these 101 Low-Cost/No-Cost Energy Saving Measures to help conserve energy this week and throughout the year. http://bit.ly/ZAWM9Y
Here are some cold weather safety and energy efficiency tips:
- Piedmont Electric recommends setting your thermostat to 68 degrees or lower.
- If you use space heaters, we encourage you to keep safety in mind. During the winter months, there are frequent news reports about house fires caused by a space heater being placed too close to flammable materials, like blankets and draperies. Make sure the heater has an auto shutoff if the unit tips over, and locate the unit far enough away from flammable materials to avoid a fire.
- If you have a fireplace, make sure the damper is kept closed except when in use. Understand that while a crackling fire provides a pleasing ambiance, it’s not very energy efficient. As the fire burns in the fireplace, it pulls air that your home’s heating system has heated right up the chimney.