Utility: Electricity demand up with temperatures

CHICAGO — Electricity usage in Illinois has soared along with the sweltering temperatures.

Ameren Illinois says it hit new highs this week for electricity demand during the oppressive heat.

The utility says it set a record for peak electricity demand on July 19 of 9,502 megawatts. Two days later, it broke that record with peak demand rising to 9,605 megawatts.

Ameren Illinois vice president Ron Pate says the enormous demand comes from air conditioners and fans that many people are keeping on day and night.

The utility suggests that energy consumers consider turning up the air conditioner's thermostat slightly. It says for each degree higher on the thermostat, you lower electricity usage by about 3 percent.

Ameren has about 2.4 million electricity customers in Illinois and Missouri.