Con Ed Sends Plea To UWS To Conserve Energy During Heat Wave

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — In the midst of New York City's hottest three-day stretch of the year, Con Edison sent a statement out Tuesday night specifically asking residents on the Upper West Side and in certain parts of Queens to conserve energy while company crews repair equipment.

Con Ed has already reduced voltage on the Upper West Side by 5 percent to protect equipment and maintain services as crews make repairs.

The West Side Rag was the first to report on Con Ed's plea to Upper West Siders.

Con Ed's message is specifically directed toward anyone on the UWS who lives between West 71st and 111th Street, from the Hudson River to Central Park West — some 77,000 customers.

Con Edison is asking customers in the area to not use energy-intensive appliances such as washers, dryers, and microwaves until crews complete repairs. The company did not specify when the repairs would be done.

Con Ed also asked Upper West Siders to limit unnecessary use of air conditioning.

"If you have two air conditioners, use only one and set it to the highest comfortable temperature," Con Ed wrote in the statement.

It is 90 degrees on the Upper West Side as of 10 a.m.

Con Edison did not immediately respond to Patch's question of what specific repairs were going on, why the repairs were being done just on the UWS and in Western Queens, and why those repairs were being done during the hottest stretch of days in 2021.

Last summer, the Upper West Side was plunged into darkness after the power went out for around 30 minutes on Aug. 7. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced at the time that it was due to a lightning strike.

Con Ed provides an outage map if the power does go off anywhere in the city.

Read More: Blackout Plunges UWS Into Darkness, Lightning Strike To Blame