New Yorkers Asked to Conserve Electricity Amid Extreme Heat and Primary Elections

Extreme Heat Impacts Primary Elections

• 🌡️ New York's primary elections are taking place amidst extreme heat, with temperatures reaching 102 degrees Fahrenheit and a "feels like" temperature of 104 degrees.
• 🗳️ Concerns exist about whether the blistering temperatures will deter voters, especially since about half of the polling places lack air conditioning.
• 💧 Despite the heat, people are showing up to vote, and polling sites are providing fans and water bottles to assist voters.

Con Edison's Response to Heat Wave

• ⚡ Con Edison is working overtime to replace equipment and prevent power outages, which would disable air conditioning at polling sites and homes.
• 📈 The utility experienced 66,000 power outages yesterday, all of which have since been restored, and is monitoring outages across the five boroughs and parts of Westchester.
• 🛠️ Con Edison is reinforcing and upgrading its equipment to handle future high-intensity heat events and increasingly intense storms.

Call for Energy Conservation

• 📉 Con Edison is asking customers in parts of Brooklyn and Queens to conserve energy by limiting the use of appliances like dishwashers and keeping AC at reasonable temperatures.
• 🔌 The utility is also reducing voltage to limit stress on the electrical system during the heat wave.
• ⚠️ As of the last check, there were less than 2,000 outages, a significant improvement from the previous day's tens of thousands.

Personal Impact of Heat and Power Issues

• 🏠 Residents without AC are experiencing 90-degree temperatures indoors, relying on fans and highlighting the challenges for families.
• 👵 Concerns are raised for elderly voters who may be more susceptible to the heat and would benefit from air-conditioned polling locations.