As Mercury Rises, Penn State Wants Power-Use Reductions

Penn State has asked everyone at University Park to cut back on electricity use this week.

Unusually warm autumn weather is putting pressure on the regional power grid, the university explained in a prepared statement. And there’s a chance that utility regulators will order a mandatory reduction in power use on campus, according to Penn State.

Should that happen, the university will have two hours to comply with the reduction order, the statement says.

In order to avoid such an order, it reads, ‘everyone should reduce their electrical use immediately and continue to conserve electricity through Friday night.’

Suggestions made by the Penn State Office of Physical Plant include these:

• Turn off unneeded and unused office lights and other equipment, such as computers, monitors, copies, printers and coffee makers.

• Unplug electronic charging devices when they’re not in use.

• Ease up on water use. Pumping and processing the water requires electricity.

• Close blinds to ease the need for air conditioning.

• Make sure exterior doors and windows are closed in air-conditioned buildings.

‘if required, Penn State University Park will transfer some of its electric load to a generator to reduce strain on the electrical grid,’ the university’s statement reads. ‘When this happens, there will be a momentary power bump that may affect equipment that is not being fed from an uninterrupted power supply.’

Earlier coverage

• Drought Watch in Effect for State College Area; Penn State Seeks Conservation (Sept. 21, 2010)