Today the PJM Interconnect, the electricity grid operator for 65 million people in 13 states and the District of Columbia, has requested its member utilities, including AES Ohio, for voluntary energy conservation. The call for conservation was prompted by pressure from high demand due to the winter weather brought on by near-zero temperatures.
AES Ohio is asking its customers to voluntarily reduce their use of electricity now through 10:00 AM on December 25, 2022.
Customers can take simple electricity conservation steps such as:
- Setting thermostats lower than usual, if health permits,
- Delaying use of major electric appliances such as stoves, dishwashers and clothes dryers until other times.
- Turning off non-essential electric lights, equipment and appliances.
“We sincerely appreciate the cooperation and patience of our customers, who can help ensure the stability and reliability of the system for all by taking these steps,” said Kristina Lund, AES Ohio President and CEO. “Public conservation can make a difference, and every little bit counts.”
In the event that additional measures are necessary, PJM will direct AES Ohio to begin emergency temporary interruptions of service to customers to extend available power generation and help maintain operations until additional power is available. These outages would be temporary and rotated among customers and would continue until additional electricity is available and normal operation of the power grid resumes.