When it's this hot out it takes a lot to keep cool. Folks are cranking their air conditioning and guzzling the water. In fact, Mishawaka Utilities says electric usage is way up from last year and water usage is double what it was last year.
Movie theaters have always been a go to place to soak up some air conditioning when the mercury rises. But you can't sit in a theater all day. So people are cranking the air at home to get that same cool refreshing feeling. Mike Rospopo said, "you better believe it. It's going. You could cut cheese with my electric meter right now."
Like many, Mike Rospopo has had his air going strong for days. "I live in a two story house and when the bedrooms are upstairs and heat rises so you gotta keep those bedrooms cool," said Rospopo. Pretty much anyone else with air conditioning is doing the same thing because when it's this hot, "it's like an oven. It's like walking into an oven," said Rospopo, air conditioning is one of few ways to cool off.
So is all this air conditioning usage causing any problems for the power company? Spokesperson for Indiana Michigan Power, David Mayne, said they haven't had any issues yet.
"When it gets to be this hot and temperatures get near 100 and above obviously we keep a very close watch on the electric delivery system," said Mayne.
Mayne said the Power company is encouraging people to conserve energy, not only to keep your electric bill down, but because if everyone does Mayne said, "it means that the system will be under less stress and will provide more reliable service for all of our customers."
So what can you do to conserve energy in this heat? Mayne said, first, set the thermostat a degree or two higher. Close shades to block out the hot sun, use a microwave for cooking because it emits far less heat than an oven, and use ceiling fans and floor fans to circulate the cooler air throughout your home so your air conditioner doesn't have to work as hard. That's a few and there are more tips on Indiana Michigan Power's web site.
