According to my local newspaper, my local utility company “set a new peak load record of 3,346 megawatts on Thursday” (July 21), “when the mercury rose to over 100 across the region, eclipsing the old record of 3,299 megawatts set on Aug. 2, 2006. NYSEG’s 2010 summer peak was 3,178 megawatts on July 8.”

Iberdrola owns my local utility company. This seems good because the company proclaims a commitment to environmental stewardship. “Iberdrola USA has been aggressively reducing its level of greenhouse gas emissions.” They say that they are  ”improving access to wind generated power and relying more on hydroelectric generation.” They say that they are renovating metering equipment.

JumpstartNY recorded my power usage during heat wave

I take part in a pilot project. JumpstartNY gives me constant color coded feedback on power usage. The information via Internet constantly goes to the utility. I have to check the website to know how I have been bad or good in the last hour, 3 hours, 6 hours, 1 day, or 1 week.

Iberdrola also proclaims a committment to act against climate change. They want to help their customers with such action. JumpstartNY advises me:

The heat of the summer is actually a great time to sign up for an energy assessment. If you find out that your home needs more insulation or weatherization you have plenty of time to get it done before winter comes. Additional insulation will help reduce your cooling costs as well. If you sign up for an energy assessment be sure to update your savings plan.

Quite honestly, during the heat wave my thoughts were not on insulation. How short-sighted of me, eh? OTOH, Sami Grover, I no longer would make the false assumption that embracing more renewables, like Iberdrola advises, would mean avoiding more heat waves. The challenge is to think of those who shall inherit the consequences of our decisions about electric power generation.