North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are encouraging members to conserve energy Monday by making small adjustments to their home energy use, including raising the set point of thermostats and delaying the use of large electric appliances until after 8 p.m.

These actions multiplied across thousands of households will help reduce demand for electricity at a time when extreme temperatures are causing demand to rise. Being able to mitigate the sharp increase in demand for electricity keeps the grid reliable for cooperative members across the state.

Some steps cooperative members can take to conserve energy include:

• Raise the set point of your thermostat by a few degrees and close your blinds during the hottest part of the day to block out the sun’s rays.
• Delay the use of large appliances like dishwashers, washers and dryers until after 8 p.m.
• Turn off unnecessary lights, including outdoor lights and ambient lighting.

“We deeply appreciate and are grateful for the partnership of cooperative members,” said Kristie Aldridge, senior vice president and COO of North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. “Every action cooperative members take helps North Carolina’s electric cooperatives maintain reliable service.”