Summer-Like Sizzle Draws Peabody Call To Conserve Energy This Week

PEABODY, MA — With temperatures expected to soar back into the 90s this week just in time for many returning to schools and the office from the summer break, Peabody Municipal Light Plant is requesting residents and businesses be conservative when thinking about spiking the air conditioners one last time.

"With this sudden burst of summer, today is predicted to be a possible peak day for September," PMLP said in a statement Monday morning. "The forecast also says tomorrow will be as nice.

"Demand will be high for electricity, so any reduction you can take will lessen stress on the New England grid. If everyone shaves a little, we all benefit."

Utility officials have previously said that the need to purchase energy during "peak" consumption days on the open market comes at an increased cost and can lead to higher utility bills throughout the year.

Residents are asked to limit energy consumption during the daytime hours and reserve activities that require heightened consumption — such as doing laundry and running the dishwasher — to early morning or evening hours when it is cooler.

The last gasp of summer is supposed to last the entire week with the heat index closing in on the upper 90s on Thursday and Friday before a return to more seasonable weather at the end of the upcoming weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)