Boro: Turn Off Electricity, Ease Strain on Grid

The Madison Electric Utility is asking residents to turn off unnecessary lights and electronics from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday and to set air-conditioning units to 77 degrees during that time because the electric grid is expected to experience extremely high demand, according to an announcement from the borough.

RoseNet.org has more information about becoming a Madison Electric Curtailment Volunteer, a program that's designed to save the borough money on peak demand charges.

On the hottest days, power companies bring extra power plants on line to satisfy demand—often the oldest, dirtiest and most inefficient plants in the system—which increases the cost of electricity significantly.

Madison pays $16 million a year for wholesale electricity and of that, more than $3 million a year is peak demand charges to keep the extra power plants open and available during the peak summer days, according to the borough.