Could El Paso See Rolling Blackouts Because Of The Heat Wave?

We all know that summer in El Paso means a helluva lot of heat but the heat wave we've gotten stuck in this past few weeks has been crazy hot. We've seen temperatures rise to 110 and that means a lot of stress and strain on the electrical grid. Keeping our homes and businesses cool isn't an easy task, so the El Paso Electric Company has some tips for how to deal with blackouts and how to help use less electricity and perhaps avoid rolling blackouts that might be necessary to prevent too much pressure on our electrical grid:

ENERGY SAVING TIPS:

1. Set your thermostat at 78°F or higher - If you keep your air at a constant temperature setting your AC won't have to cycle on and off so often.
2. Use ceiling fans and portable fans to circulate the cool air - Make sure your fan is pulling air up by switching the setting so it's not blasting hot air down at you.
3. Close interior blinds, drapes, or shades - Before you leave your house, make sure everything is closed to keep the sun and heat outside where it belongs.
4. Outside air conditioning units, or condensers, should be shaded - This helps keep the unit cool and not having to work so hard.
5. If you're not at home, set your thermostat to 80°F or higher - No need to keep the ghosteses in your house cool. Turn that thermostat up so your bill won't scare you.
6. Cook and wash clothes early or late - Instead of heating up the house, grill or use a crockpot to cook dinner, and use your other appliances like dishwashers and clothes washers and dryers late in the evening when it's a little cooler.