With temperatures dropping to their lowest in years, customer demand for power could put a strain on Tacoma Power’s electrical system and could also strain customers’ finances when they receive their next utility bill.

The utility asks its customers to be cautious in their use of power during peak times, from about 6:30 to 9 a.m. and 5 to 7:30 p.m. Paying attention to and being cautious about power use during all times of the day will help reduce the high bills that come with cold weather.

“Although Tacoma Power’s system can meet immediate needs, we are relying on our customers to be proactive to avoid potential problems on our electrical system,” said Tacoma Power Superintendent Gary Armfield. “A couple of simple measures at home could significantly reduce the threat of outages on our system because of high demand.”

Tacoma Power customers can help reduce their energy use by:

— Setting thermostats to no higher than 68 degrees when at home, and 65 degrees at night and while away during the day. For longer absences, customers should set thermostats at 55 degrees

— Limiting the amount of power they use at peak times

— Turning off lights in unoccupied rooms

— Unplugging non-essential appliances and other electronic devices when not in use

— Considering turning off holiday lighting – indoors and out – during peak times

“This extreme cold weather will mean higher bills for most of our customers,” said Customer Services Manager Steve Hatcher. “Being conscious of power use and doing a few easy things at home can make a big difference.”

Ice and snow increase the odds that trees and branches will fall into power lines and cause power outages. If customers experience an outage, Tacoma Power asks them to turn off all but one light, turn down the thermostat and unplug non-essential appliances, then slowly turn electrical items on on-by-one over a period of time after their power is restored. If all customers turn their electrical items on at one time it could overload the system and cause another outage.

The utility encourages customers to also keep safety in mind during this cold spell. Customers should never use generators, charcoal barbecues or gas barbecues indoors because of the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning.