FirstEnergy Prepared for Summer Heat, Offers Assistance to Customers

When summer temperatures rise, so does electricity use as air conditioners, refrigerators and other electric equipment work harder to help keep us comfortable. At FirstEnergy, we prepare for these extreme conditions in advance through comprehensive system inspections and maintenance programs that help ensure system reliability.

Our utilities use “thermovision” cameras to capture infrared images that can detect potential problems with electrical equipment in substations and on poles. By identifying hot spots, proactive maintenance and repairs can be conducted. Helicopter patrols also are used to inspect our transmission lines prior to the high-demand summer season. Our crews also review hot weather operational procedures to ensure any outages that occur are promptly addressed.

Safety is a top priority at FirstEnergy, and our employees receive briefings about what steps they can take to stay safe on the job when the heat index rises due to the hot and humid conditions. Proper hydration, enhanced situational awareness, adjusting work schedules and paying close attention to the condition of fellow employees on the job site are some of the steps that are taken to prevent heat exhaustion or other heat-related illnesses.

Customer Tips

Our utilities also offer hot weather tips customers can follow to stay comfortable while using electricity wisely during this period of high demand:

Set thermostats as high as comfort will allow. Every degree a customer can increase the temperature in their home will result in using about 2 percent less energy during the hottest summer days.
During sunny weather, close drapes or blinds on windows facing the sun to prevent direct radiant heating from impacting interior temperatures.
Use fans – moving air cools skin faster, resulting in greater comfort on hot days.
Use a programmable thermostat to keep temperatures higher when no one is home, and to reduce the temperature before arrival back home.
Only operate window air conditioners when someone is in the room.
Keep refrigerators and freezers as full as possible. Frozen or cold items in the refrigerator help keep other items cool, reducing the amount of work the refrigerator has to do to maintain a lower temperature.
Close rooms that aren't used regularly during the summer, and close the air conditioning vents in those rooms, as well.
Avoid using heat-producing appliances during the hottest hours of the day. The less heat produced at home, the less work the air conditioner will do.
Consider investing in ENERGY STAR® appliances or heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. FirstEnergy's utilities may offer rebates on these purchases and tax deductions may apply, as well.
Check air conditioner and furnace fan filters. Clogged filters waste energy and money by forcing HVAC systems to work harder than necessary.

Other FirstEnergy summer safety tips are available at www.firstenergycorp.com/safety.

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FirstEnergy Prepared for Summer Heat, Offers Assistance to Customers

Customer Tips

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