Dominion Meets Record Winter Peak
Electricity Demand
RICHMOND, Va. -- Dominion, one of the nation's
largest energy companies, met an unofficial record winter one-hour peak demand
from its Virginia and North Carolina electricity customers Monday.
Heating systems kicked into high gear Sunday
and Monday as temperatures plummeted into the teens across Virginia and northeastern
North Carolina. Customers demanded an estimated 16,542 megawatts of electricity
from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday, easily surpassing the old mark of 16,133 megawatts
set Jan. 23, 2003. Further tabulations may adjust the final amount of megawatts
generated and consumed by customers.
The Dominion all-time record peak demand is 17,084
megawatts set July 29, 2002.
Dominion encourages its customers to use smart
energy practices to keep their homes warm and heating systems working at peak
efficiencies. Heating costs can account for 25 percent to 50 percent of a home’s
total energy expense, so efficiency experts offer these tips to control heating
costs:
Have a qualified heating contractor inspect and service
your system to ensure it is safe and working at peak efficiency.
If you have a forced-air heating system, clean or replace
the filter monthly and keep heat vents open and unobstructed by furniture.
Make sure that all ductwork is sealed at joints and intersections
with duct sealer or silicone caulk. Otherwise, supply ductwork can leak heated
air into the attic or crawl space, and outside air can be drawn into the return
ductwork, increasing costs and reducing comfort dramatically.
Set the thermostat at 68 degrees or the lowest temperature
you find comfortable. For every degree you lower the setting, you can see
a difference of up to 3 percent in energy costs. Setting it lower at night
will produce savings with gas and oil systems, but is not recommended for
heat pump systems unless you have a programmable thermostat specifically designed
for that system.
If you have a gas or oil furnace, consider adding a high-efficiency
heat pump. It could save you up to 60 percent on heating costs and keep you
cool next summer.
Trim or remove grass, weeds, leaves and other obstacles
from around the outdoor unit of your heating or cooling system. When airflow
is blocked, it puts a strain on the system and lowers efficiency.
To get the best value for the energy dollar,
it is important for consumers to know where energy is used in their houses.
Dominion invites customers to visit the company’s Internet site at http://www.dom.com/customer/efficiency/res/index.jsp
for energy-saving information or to enroll in its Energy Audit Assistance Program.
The U.S. Department of Energy Web site also has
information on winterizing your house and other ways to make your home energy-smart.
For more information, visit the DOE on the Internet at http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/info/homes.
The DOE and the Environmental Protection Agency
sponsor Home Energy Saver, a Web-based do-it-yourself energy audit tool at http://hes.lbl.gov/.
Dominion also asks that you contribute to EnergyShare
to assist those in need. EnergyShare helps pay home heating bills for qualified
individuals living within the company's service area. The program pays for any
heating source: oil, gas, kerosene, wood, and electricity. It is a program of
last resort for the elderly, the ill and for all who face financial hardships
from unemployment or family crisis. Payments go directly to energy vendors on
behalf of those helped, and every dollar donated goes to benefit those in need.
Dominion Virginia Power customers can contribute
to EnergyShare by adding an extra $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $25 or $35 to monthly
bills. The company's computers automatically recognize these exact amounts as
contributions to EnergyShare. An envelope also will be inserted in customers'
bills in February soliciting contributions. Donations may be mailed to EnergyShare,
P.O. Box 12083, Richmond, Va. 23241-0083.
Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers
of energy, with an energy portfolio of about 25,500 megawatts of generation.
Dominion also serves retail energy customers in eight states. For more information
about Dominion, visit the company's Web site at www.dom.com.
