Weeks Into Record Heatwave, Louisville Utility Calls For Customers To Turn Up Thermostats

[hatrack]

Baking under another record-breaking heat wave, customers of Louisville Gas & Electric and Kentucky Utilities Co. are being asked for the first time this year to conserve electricity. The request for area residents to temporarily turn off their air conditioners, dishwashers and other appliances comes as near 100-degree heat continues to drive record levels of energy consumption.

Chip Keeling, a spokesman for LG&E parent E.On US, said the request is part of a cooperative effort with utilities in seven states surrounding Kentucky. Keeling said the move is largely proactive -- there is no concern that there won't be enough electricity.

Temperatures are expected to approach 100 today as they did yesterday, when the mercury climbed to 99, breaking the record set in 1959 of 98 degrees.

EDIT

Records have been dropping like beads of sweat since the heat wave started July 30. The record string of consecutive days with 90-degree heat or more was broken Monday when the city experienced its 22nd consecutive day. The streak ended Tuesday, when the high was only 88. The previous record of 21 straight days was set three times: August of 1900, July of 1901 and August of 1936.

EDIT

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070824/NEWS01/708240450/1008

[ben_meyers]

1. So once again I have to ask

What was going on in 1900, 1901 and 1936?

[Javaman]

2. Those were the years that the popular thought was

turning on your heat in the summer makes you cooler. We've come a long way since then.