ALLENTOWN, Pa. (August 6, 2001) -- With hot and humid weather expected throughout the week, customers of PPL Electric Utilities can expect reliable delivery of the electricity they need to keep cool and power their home appliances despite record levels of demand.

"We maintain our electric delivery system to handle the levels of high demand we expect to see this week," said Robert M. Geneczko, vice president of Power Delivery for PPL Electric Utilities.

PPL Electric Utilities established a new summer demand record Monday (8/6), surpassing the mark of 6,396 megawatt-hours set on July 25. Based on preliminary figures, the estimated demand by PPL Electric Utilities’ 1.3 million customers was about 6,500 megawatt-hours this afternoon.

The all-time demand for PPL Electric Utilities remains 6,928 megawatt-hours set on Jan. 17, 2000.

Customers can help ensure continued reliability by using energy wisely on these hot, sticky days, Geneczko said. Simple things that residential customers can do, if health permits, include:

• Setting air conditioner thermostats at 78 degrees.

• Using major electric appliances such as washing machines, clothes dryers, dishwashers and electric ranges in the early morning or evening, when demand for electricity is lower.

• Closing shades, drapes or blinds to keep the sun out during the day.

The regional PJM Interconnection also is calling for customers to take simple conservation measures as a way to ensure continued reliability.

PJM coordinates more than 58,000 megawatts of generating capacity and operates a wholesale electricity market with more than 200 buyers, sellers and traders of electricity in five mid-Atlantic states.