This week high temps and heat advisories again spread across West
Tennessee.
The hot weather is causing many are putting greater demand on utilities to
stay cool.

Phillip Mullins, spokesperson for Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership
Corporation, said these conditions are not unusual for our area.

According to Mullins, utility companies track usage according to
seasonal weather patterns. He said this weather is not unusual for our
area and
he doesn’t see this as putting any extraordinary stress on power
companies.

According to Mullins, the biggest demand comes from increased use of HVAC
and window air conditioners. Each year customers call complaining that
their bill has never been as high but Mullins said that looking back at
the
past use shows the bills are usually comparable to that of the previous
year.
Sometimes as closes as $5.00 comparing the same month to previous year’s
bill.

Mullins advises customers to set their thermostats higher and to use
ceiling fans and box fans to help make them feel cooler while at home.
Also, it is important that HVAC units be serviced and functioning properly
including clean filters.

Weather forecasters predict more hot weather for the rest of the week.