Progress Energy Carolinas Customers Asked to Lower Electricity Usage

RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 20  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- High August heat continues today, and with tight electricity supply throughout the region, Progress Energy Carolinas is asking its customers to curb non-essential use of electricity until 9 p.m.

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Customers set a peak-demand record Aug. 9, using 12,647 megawatt-hours (MWh) between 3 and 4 p.m. That eclipsed a record set July 27, 2005. Last week's demand was high but did not eclipse the record. Today's heat and humidity are not expected to set a record, but usage will be close to record levels, and generation supplies throughout the region are near capacity.

The company encourages customers to turn off unnecessary lights and avoid using dishwashers, washing machines and dryers and performing other chores involving electrical equipment until after 9 p.m., when customer demand typically subsides.

Reducing individual use of non-essential electricity will help ensure that there are no demand-related outages. Industrial and commercial customers are also asked to reduce power use, as are residents of communities whose municipal power system or electric cooperative is served by Progress Energy Carolinas.

Progress Energy conducts continuous planning to ensure the company's ability to meet customer demand even during peaks of record demand. The company's load-management plan, filed with the N.C. Utilities Commission, includes several levels of actions to deal with changing electric system conditions. As the situation warrants, actions can escalate from voluntary curtailment of non-essential electricity use by customers to systemwide voltage reductions and, in extreme circumstances, rotating available power. At this time, the company does not anticipate having to implement extreme measures in response to the heat wave.

Using energy wisely is always important -- on hot days and every day. Progress Energy offers customers many no-cost and low-cost ways to lower energy use and save money on the company's Web site, http://www.savethewatts.com/ . Among those tips are the following:

  -- For central air conditioning systems, keep the fan switch on your
     thermostat in the "auto" position when cooling. This gives you better
     cooling and humidity control. Having the fan switch "on" continuously
     could cost an extra $25 a month on your electric bill.
  -- Set the thermostat a little higher. Most people can be comfortable with
     a setting of 78-80 degrees Fahrenheit, plus you'll save up to 7 percent
     of your cooling costs for each degree above 78.
  -- Use a ceiling fan or portable fan to supplement your air conditioning.
     A fan can make you feel three to four degrees cooler (and only costs a
     half-cent per hour to operate) so you can set your thermostat a few
     degrees higher and save on cooling costs.
  -- When you leave home, turn off the ceiling fans and set the thermostat
     up a few degrees.
  -- Clean or change your filters monthly. Dirty filters can increase
     operating costs by 20 percent. Don't block registers and vents with
     furniture or drapes.
  -- Close blinds, drapes and shades during the hottest part of the day.
     This keeps the sun's rays from heating your home.
  -- Use your microwave oven to cook food. Microwaves use less than one-half
     the power of conventional ovens and they don't heat up your kitchen.
  -- Caulk, seal and weather strip all openings from your home to the
     outside. Eliminating air leaks in your home can save you up to 10
     percent in energy costs.



Progress Energy, headquartered in Raleigh, is a Fortune 250 energy company with more than 21,000 megawatts of generation capacity and $10 billion in annual revenues. The company includes two major utilities that serve more than 3.1 million customers in the Carolinas and Florida. Progress Energy is the 2006 recipient of the Edison Electric Institute's Edison Award, the industry's highest honor, in recognition of its operational excellence. The company also is the first utility to receive the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates Founder's Award for customer service. Progress Energy serves two fast-growing areas of the country, and the company is pursuing a balanced approach to meeting the future energy needs of the region. That balance includes increased energy efficiency programs, investments in renewable energy technologies and a state-of-the-art electricity system. For more information about Progress Energy, visit the company's Web site at http://www.progress-energy.com/ . 

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