Naperville residents asked to conserve power during hot weather

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (WLS) -- Naperville officials asked residents to think twice about cranking the air conditioning as scorching hot weather hits the west suburb.

The National Weather Service expects temperatures to reach the lower 90s on Tuesday, which could turn out to be the hottest day of the year so far.

The price the city pays to purchase energy is partly determined by its peak usage. If homeowners turn their homes into iceboxes on Tuesday, they could end up paying more in the form of higher energy rates.

Naperville estimates energy usage will be highest from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday.

One way to cut back on power usage is to set air conditioners to 78 degrees or higher, as long as residents do not have health concerns.

Keep curtains or shades drawn to keep out the heat. Turn off any small electronics that aren't being used.

Refrain from using major appliances like a washer or dryer until later in the evening. Using a grill to cook dinner instead of the oven is another way to keep cool and conserve power.