Stay Safe and Save Energy During Heatwaves

According to the National Weather Service, a heatwave is defined as “a period of abnormally hot weather generally lasting more than two days.” During this heatwave, we encourage people to remember the NWS acronym HEAT – Hydrate. Educate yourself. Act quickly. Take it easy.

We’ve collected all you need to know to beat the heat!

Safety First

Seek out air-conditioned spaces, if possible, if your home becomes too warm.
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.
Avoid wearing dark colors because they absorb the sun’s rays.
Never leave children or pets alone in enclosed vehicles.
Avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day, which is between 10 AM and 2 PM.

Find ore safety tips and information on local Cooling Centers here.

Customers on qualifying life-support equipment can register for the PSEG Long Island Critical Care Program to receive enhanced notifications from the company. During severe weather, registered customers will receive additional outreach from PSEG Long Island. Customers who rely on such equipment are responsible for planning ahead to meet medical needs in the event of a power outage. For more info or to sign up, visit psegliny.com/criticalcare

“Summer can bring extreme weather like heat waves, and PSEG Long Island prepares year-round for this. We have been upgrading equipment, carefully planning to provide sufficient electric capacity to meet peak demand, and positioning our personnel to respond effectively if needed. It is also important for our customers to prepare themselves to stay safe in times of high heat.”

– Michael Sullivan, Vice President of Electric Operations, PSEG Long Island

Save Energy and Money While Staying Cool

High temperatures can also lead to higher energy use, resulting in higher electric bills. To help save energy and money this summer, PSEG Long Island offers the following tips:

Set home thermostats or air conditioner units to 78 degrees.
Customers on a Time-of-Day rate can save money and energy by running dishwashers, clothes dryers, electric vehicles and other high-energy-use appliances outside of peak hours, which are weekdays from 3 – 7 PM.
Set refrigerators and freezers at most-efficient temperatures.
Use a programmable thermostat. ENERGY STAR® estimates that homes with high heating and cooling bills, as well as homes that are unoccupied for much of the day, can save approximately $100 a year with an ENERGY STAR® certified smart thermostat. In addition, PSEG Long Island offers rebates on smart thermostats.
Commercial and residential customers may sign up for the Peak Load Rewards program. Visit psegliny.com/saveenergyandmoney/GreenEnergy/PeakLoad for more details.
Close blinds and window coverings facing the sun to keep out the sun’s heat.
Charge electric vehicles overnight.
Install a high efficiency air source heat pump (ASHP) to lower energy usage in cold and hot months. Rebates are available from PSEG Long Island.
Get more cooling tips at psegliny.com/saveenergyandmoney/TipsandTools/66waystosave.

Heat-Related Power Outages

Extreme temperatures and high electric demand can sometimes cause scattered, heat-related outages. During extreme heat, PSEG Long Island will have additional personnel available to address outages safely and as quickly as possible.

Download the PSEG Long Island mobile app to report outages and receive information on restoration times, crew locations and more.
Report an outage and receive status updates by texting OUT to PSEGLI (773454). You can also report your outage through our app or our website at psegliny.com/outages.
To report an outage or downed wire, you can also call PSEG Long Island’s 24-hour Electric Service number at 800-490-0075.
Follow PSEG Long Island on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) to report an outage and for updates before, during and after the storm.
Visit PSEG Long Island’s MyPower map for the latest in outage info, restoration times and crew locations across Long Island and the Rockaways at mypowermap.psegliny.com.