National Grid Asks Customers To Use Less Energy

As more people are looking to beat the heat, air conditioning companies across Western New York are working overtime. At the same time, National Grid is asking some customers to avoid using too much electricity to avoid additional power outages during this extended period of extreme heat.

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Both Monday and Tuesday, thousands of National Grid customers were left in the dark and the heat due to equipment failure, and according to News 4 WIVB-TV meteorologists relief won't be heading our way until at least the weekend.

This led the company to ask the roughly 7,000 households affected to hold off on certain activities – like using the pool filter or washer and dryer – while they worked on the needed repairs.

“Sometimes electricity loads on a hot day like the day we had yesterday or having again today can certainly be a factor in a transmission or distribution line not working,” said National Grid spokesman David Bertola.

According to Bertola, crews are constantly keeping track of the weather in order to make sure they’re prepared for additional power outages – especially since this heat seems like it’s sticking around for an unusually long period.