Power Outages Expected As Heat Wave Hits Massachusetts

BOSTON — As the heat wave hits Massachusetts at full force, residents find ways to beat the heat, and with a big chunk of people still working from home, most will be running the air conditioning on full blast.

On average, Massachusetts customers use 40 percent more electricity during the summer months to help keep themselves cool while it's aggressively hot outside, according to Eversource. Due to this increase, Eversource says a strain can be put on the electric system, causing potential blackouts and power surges.

However, Eversource says they are prepared to meet that increased demand, and "crews are ready to respond to any outages or issues that may arise."

Now that Monday's storms are over, it's nothing but heat and humidity here in the Bay State for the next few days at least. This week brings in the first heat wave of the season, and today won't be the worst of it.

Tuesday and Wednesday will have highs in the mid to upper 90s, but with slightly less humidity than Thursday is expected to bring. Highs on Thursday are expected to creep into the upper 90s, mix in a hefty amount of humidity, and its expected to feel like it's 100 degrees outside.

"We begin preparing for the increased demand we typically see during the summer months well before the hot weather arrives," said Eversource Vice President for Electric Operations Bill Ritchie. "By conducting ground and aerial inspections of the overhead and underground electrical system in the cooler months, we can detect and address any issues in advance so that our customers have reliable service during these hot summer days and throughout the year."

Eversource provided some insight on how to save a few bucks while keeping yourself cool.

• Use the Cooling Calculator on Eversource.com. The tool helps customers understand how much electricity their current cooling system uses and the impact of small changes to temperature settings.
• Take an online Home Energy Assessment to identify money-saving opportunities at home including weatherization, efficient heating, and cooling equipment incentives, energy-saving tips, and attractive financing offers for eligible upgrades. Lower- or fixed-income customers may qualify for additional services and increased incentives.
• Take advantage of the Kill A Watt electricity usage meter which shows how much power is being used by most home devices. The Kill A Watt kits are available to borrow from many libraries around the state.
• Keep air conditioners set at a moderate temperature that's also comfortable. For every degree higher on the thermostat, the air conditioner will use 1-3 percent less electricity. Using a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat can also help manage energy usage, especially when away from home.
• Don't block airflow. Keep air vents clear of obstructions such as furniture, curtains, and rugs. For those with central air and floor vents, consider using vent deflectors to direct and increase the reach of cooled air. Keep air conditioner filters and coils clean. Dirty filters block airflow, reducing efficiency and making it harder to deliver cool air.
• Keep blinds closed when it's hot out to prevent unwanted heat from entering a home through windows. Using curtains, shades, and blinds can lower indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees.
• Set ceiling fans to rotate counterclockwise and at a higher speed in the summer to circulate the breeze more effectively, creating a cooling, wind chill effect. Since ceiling fans cool only people and not the actual room; remember to turn the fan off when leaving the room.
• Cook dinner outside. Cooking indoors heats up the kitchen and makes cooling systems work harder, so opt for cooking outdoors instead.

Here's what the rest of the week is expected to look like, according to the National Weather Service:

Tuesday

Sunny, with a high near 94, by Tuesday night it should be mostly clear, with a low around 74.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Wednesday night will be mostly clear, with a low around 73.

Thursday

A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. South wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. Thursday night should bring a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10 p.m. It should be partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 94. Friday night should be mostly clear, with a low around 72.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 93. Saturday night should be partly cloudy, with a low around 72.

Sunday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Sunday night will bring a chance of showers. It should be mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. West wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent