DENVER (KDVR) — Amid sweltering near-record temperatures and heat advisories across Colorado, Xcel Energy is requesting customers reduce electricity use to address high demand on the system.
The company in a press release asked customers to conserve energy from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday by making some changes to their regular habits. The Pinpoint Weather team forecasts record-tying temperatures were possible in Denver Thursday, and heat advisories are in place throughout parts of the state.
Denver weather: Pinpoint Weather Alert Day for high heat
The company said customers can reduce the risk of “controlled, rotating power outages,” and some of the ways to conserve energy Thursday include:
- Setting thermostats to 78 degrees or higher
- Turning off unnecessary lights
- Postponing the use of major appliances
“The company is requesting that customers take these steps to conserve energy to decrease the demand on the electrical grid and reduce stress on the system,” Xcel said in the press release. “These conservation efforts could reduce the risk of more significant actions, which could include controlled, rotating power outages. ”
Xcel said if rolling outages become necessary, though it did not say when or if that would be needed, the power will be shut off in rotating areas to keep the larger grid operating to avoid longer outages…