NORFOLK, Va. — While much of Hampton Roads is dealing with rising temperatures, Dominion Energy is closely monitoring the heat.
As of Saturday evening, Dominion Energy has maintained a steady power supply, with no heat-related outages reported. Dominion's ground and helicopter crews are conducting regular infrared heat scans on its substations and transmission lines to ensure the continued operation of all equipment under these hot conditions.
"We make sure that we are using materials that can withstand extreme weather conditions, and our crews are monitoring it around the clock, even during this heat wave. We have crews who are working 24/7," said Dominion Energy's Senior Communications Specialist Media Relations Cherise Newsome.
Moreover, Newsome said the entire power generation fleet is either in operation or on standby and ready to be deployed immediately if a power outage occurs.
She also offered tips on staying cool in this heat. The company encourages customers to conserve energy and avoid higher bills during extreme heat conditions. She says customers should:
- Set their thermostat a few degrees higher than you usually would do so. Every few degrees can lead to significant savings when your AC works overtime.
- Use ceiling fans to circulate air and help keep your home cool. Newsome says they use far less energy than your AC unit.
- Lastly, keep your blinds closed during the hottest parts of the day. This can make a big difference in keeping your home cool and reducing stress on your AC unit.
Additionally, Newsome says the Dominion is ensuring your power is on during this heat by coordinating closely with the regional grid operator PJM and our peer utilities to ensure the grid's reliability throughout the heatwave in Virginia and across the entire 13-state regional grid.