PGE prepares for extreme heat and high electric use — encourages customers to be prepared, too

Portland, Ore. — With weather forecasts calling for a record-breaking heat wave, Portland General Electric is preparing for high demand for electricity during the next few days as customers try to stay cool. Because periods of extreme heat can place extra stress on electrical equipment, our team is working to ensure systems are ready to perform during periods of peak demand. Extra cooling systems have been activated on essential distribution equipment to help keep our own equipment from over-heating. We have crews activated for the weekend to ensure we can quickly and effectively respond to any outages. We’re encouraging customers to take some simple steps that can help everyone. One of the most basic steps for people who have air conditioning is to simply turn the thermostat up a few degrees, which reduces power consumption. Another simple measure is to forego doing things like laundry during the heat wave, especially during daylight hours when demand is at the highest. Closing the blinds and lowering the shades can also help. Other energy saving tips can be found here. In addition to taking steps to help conserve energy during peak demand times, there are some steps customers can take if an outage does happen. We encourage customers to check on neighbors or relatives who may have trouble coping with the heat. Consider helping those neighbors develop a backup plan to stay cool. It’s also a good idea for all customers to keep outage preparedness kits, no matter the weather. Your outage kit should include: • Flashlights and battery-powered or hand-crank radio. • Extra batteries. • Car chargers for mobile devices, laptops or tablet computers. • Battery-powered clock. • Emergency phone numbers including PGE outage numbers: 503-464-7777 or 800-544-1795. Other handy items include: • Bottled water (especially for those who rely on electricity to pump water). • Manual can opener. • Disposable plates and utensils. • Battery-powered camp lantern. • Comfort items like playing cards or favorite books. In the event of an outage, it’s also a good idea to take steps to keep food safe. Some helpful food-safety tips can be found at FoodSafety.gov. Customers can get more tips and updates on Twitter @PortlandGeneral and Facebook @PortlandGeneralElectric or at PortlandGeneral.com. Links • Energy Saving Tips • Food Safety Tips