Triple-digit days have official eyes on Utah’s power grid
Jun 15, 2021, 2:12 PM | Updated: 2:18 pm
SALT LAKE CITY — Right now Utah’s power grid is seeing more usage thanks to a string of triple-digit temperatures. And there’s no immediate relief in sight.
Those truths have power officials keeping an eye on Utah’s power grid. But there’s another truth to be aware of — those who work Utah’s power grids are well prepared.
“The point is to be ready before the hot weather happens,” David Eskelsen with Rocky Mountain Power told KSL TV reporter Ladd Egan. He said power crews have been training for these hot-water days.
Temperatures are expected to be even higher in southern Utah, where highs could reach between 105 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit over the next several days.
That’s led the St. George Energy Department to move towards their “Use Less Save More” system that they hope will take as much stress off their power grid as possible, and encourage conservation. The system is a color-coded chart. If a day, based on the temperature, is a “red” day, the chart identifies ways to save energy. The same is true for orange, and green days.
By visiting the website each day, St. George residents can see if temperatures and conditions have created a red, orange, or green day, and advise them on to use power accordingly.
For example, on an orange day, St. George residents are urged not to use their oven and to avoid doing laundry and dishwashing during peak hours.
“If it saves money on your power bill, it’s good for you,” Rene Fleming with the St. George Energy Department said. “If it also helps limit the stress on the grid, it’s good for all of us.
Other energy-saving tips include turning up the thermostat to 78 degrees and grilling outside instead of turning on the oven.
In the meantime, KSL TV reports that Rocky Mountain Power is keeping an eye on problem areas and has extra staff on standby.
