[Press Release] : press release

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 22, 2005

CONTACT: Connie Kacprowicz
Communications Specialist
Office - (573) 874-7325

Conservation encouraged during peak electric conditions				

	(COLUMBIA, MO) - Due to high electric use with the continued hot weather, Columbia Water and Light has issued a peak warning to request customers conserve electricity during the afternoon hours on Friday, July 22, and through the weekend.
	Peak electrical demand occurs during the hottest days of summer when electric consumption is critically high. In order for Water and Light to avoid purchasing additional electricity when electric prices are at their highest, the utility tries to reduce demand to keep rates low. If demand isn't reduced, it can add millions of dollars to Columbia's electric costs.
	Extra power bought on the wholesale electric market during peak periods is very expensive. When Columbia Water and Light has to purchase additional electricity at a high rate to meet the demand, rates for customers might be affected. Normally, electricity bought on the open market costs the utility around $75 a megawatt hour.  Prices during peak use conditions over the last several days have been running around $150 per megawatt hour.		
	Columbia Water and Light has several programs in place to help control peak loads by lowering demand. Large customers have been shedding electric loads during the afternoons and the utility has been running load management switches on smaller electric systems for the last several days. Both the Load Shedding Program and the Load Management Program are voluntary programs the utility has in place to help reduce power costs. The savings are passed along to the customers for their conservation efforts.  
	There are a few simple things Columbians can do to keep rates low:
Postpone until after 8 p.m.:
*	doing laundry
*	using automatic dishwashers and dehumidifiers
*	taking showers (for those with electric water heaters)
Other conservation ideas:
*	Set thermostats up one or two degrees.
*	Avoid heating the kitchen   barbecue or prepare a cool meal.
*	Check and change the air conditioning/furnace filter.
*	Leave window shades that receive direct sunlight down during the day.

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