Norwich – Norwich Public Utilities has extended the power alert issued Monday to run through 8 p.m. Tuesday, encouraging electricity customers to reduce power usage during the peak period.

With temperatures approaching 90 degrees and high humidity, NPU expects demand for electricity to be very high through the end of the day. By encouraging energy efficiency, NPU hopes to decrease the impact on its electrical infrastructure and reduce costs in the long-term.

A portion of NPU’s annual costs for future wholesale electricity contracts are based on peak demand days this year. By using energy efficiently, customers can help keep their overall electric costs lower throughout the year.

“We are encouraging all our customers to use electricity wisely while keeping cool in the days ahead,” said John Bilda, NPU general manager. “We are also encouraging everyone to keep an eye out for those who may have a tough time in extreme weather – particularly the elderly or infirmed to make sure everyone stays safe during this challenging stretch of weather.”