Customer Newsletter, July 2008

Energy Wise Tip: Operate Your Appliances When Energy Demand is Low

How and when you use electric energy can make a difference. Nebraska's electric system must be flexible to supply reliable power to homes, businesses and industries under a wide variety of conditions. This takes a complex system of power plants, substations, transmission and distribution lines to get energy to where it needs to go. As an energy consumer, there are many things you can do to reduce energy usage, particularly during hot days in the summer months when demand for electricity is typically at its highest. These energy-wise tips include:

• When temperatures top 90° F, find ways to reduce your energy usage from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. when energy usage is typically at its highest.
• Raise your thermostat to a higher setting and turn on fans
• Close drapes on windows that face the sun.
• Grill supper outdoors. Use your microwave instead of the stovetop or oven.
• Delay dishwashing and laundry until after 8 p.m.
• Unplug appliances and shut off lights that are not in use.
• Do any baking early in the morning before it gets hot outside.
• Shower early in the morning or later in the evening.

Southern Power District wants you to get the most value for your money, each and every time you turn on a switch. It costs far less to save a kilowatt-hour than it does to build a new power plant to generate one.

Visit our Energy Wise Page for an archive of tips!

Other stories you'll find inside this edition:

• Weather Causes Outages, and Challenges for the District and Its Customers
It seems as though every corner of our service area has endured more than its share of rough weather during the past month. More>>>
• Post Storm Caution
After a tornado, its common for people to be curious about storm damage, and drive country roads to see it first hand. More>>>
• Summer Interns on Staff at SPD
Southern Power District will be employing interns throughout the summer, seven of whom are currently working toward being a lineman. More>>>
• Energy Camp is Back for 2008!
Southern has scheduled Bright Ideas Day Camp for Thursday, August 7th at Southern's Grand Island Service Center. More>>>
• Recipe Box: Herbed Hamburgers, submitted by customers Ned & Laura Nelson
Recipe>>>