Emergency alerts issued as temperatures soar towards 100°F and power outages loom
In response to a severe heat wave, New York City has issued emergency alerts advising residents to “immediately limit energy usage.” With temperatures nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the city’s emergency alert system has called for New Yorkers to refrain from using energy-intensive appliances such as washers, dryers, and microwaves, and to minimize unnecessary air conditioning.
Mayor Bill de Blasio emphasized the urgency of the situation during a Wednesday press conference, urging residents to “turn off anything you don’t need to be on right now.” He advised, “If you can wait until tomorrow to use certain appliances, please do so. This is essential.”
Con Edison, the city’s energy utility, echoed these calls for conservation, reporting that thousands of customers have been affected by power cuts after the company implemented an 8 percent reduction in voltage in certain neighborhoods. The heat wave has also led to widespread outages, impacting hundreds of households and businesses across the city.