New York City Reduces Power to Counter Heat Wave

New York City’s largest power provider Con Edison reduced voltage by 8 percent in some areas as a precaution to protect equipment because of a heat wave.

NEW YORK (Sputnik) — Power has been reduced throughout various neighborhoods of New York City in order to counter the effects of a heat wave that is affecting US Northeast, New York City’s largest power provider Con Edison said in a statement on Monday.

“Con Edison has reduced voltage by 8 percent in those areas as a precaution to protect equipment,” Con Edison stated.

Furthermore, the power provider has asked New York residents in the neighborhoods, which include 138,000 customers, to conserve energy by not using appliances such as washers, dryers and air conditioners.

The US National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the greater New York City area for most of the day on Monday as temperatures are expected to surpass 90 degrees for several days.

“The kind of heat can be dangerous,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a press conference Monday morning. “We have to be mindful in these very hot temperatures, energy usage goes up, which puts a strain on our electrical system.”

De Blasio announced that New York City has also opened 500 cooling centers for residents who do not have access to air conditioning.

Con Edison provides electricity to approximately 3.3 million of New York City customers.