Press Release

PUC Asks Consumers to Conserve Electricity Throughout the Holiday Weekend Because of Extreme Cold

Published on 12/24/2022

Filed under: Consumer Education Electric

Frigid Weather Prompts Regional Power Grid Operator to Request Public Energy Conservation to Help Ease Power Demands

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today urged members of the public to conserve electricity over the holiday weekend.

The call for energy conservation comes as the power grid operator for the mid-Atlantic region – PJM Interconnection – issued an expanded cold weather alert and request for conservation in Pennsylvania, along with the 12 other states and the District of Columbia.

PJM is asking consumers to reduce their use of electricity, if health permits, between the hours of 4 a.m. on December 24, 2022, and 10 a.m. on December 25, 2022.

The continuing extreme cold weather is expected to increase electricity demand across the PJM region, which serves approximately 65 million people, along with the regions neighboring PJM.

Conservation Tips

Consumers can take some simple steps to conserve electricity, such as:

• Setting thermostats lower than usual, if health permits,
• Postponing use of major electric appliances such as stoves, dishwashers and clothes dryers until other times, and
• Turning off non-essential electric lights, equipment and appliances.

Additionally, consumers can take some additional steps to enhance their comfort during this wave of extreme cold weather without increasing their electricity use, including:

• Keep doors and windows closed as much as possible, including garage doors.
• Close doors to unused rooms and turning down the heat in those spaces.
• Ensure air vents are not blocked in spaces you are using, to help the flow of heat.
• Close curtains, drapes and blinds at night to help keep the heat in.

Conserving electricity as much as possible over the weekend will help ensure adequate power supplies. PJM continues to carefully monitor the power supply conditions and is coordinating efforts among generators, power suppliers and local utilities.  PJM is communicating about the situation with state government officials throughout the region, and PJM and the PUC will continue to inform the public about the situation.

About the PUC

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

Visit the PUC’s website at puc.pa.gov for recent news releases and video of select proceedings. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Search for the “Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission” or “PA PUC” on your favorite social media channel for updates on utility issues and other helpful consumer information.

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Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov