HEAT WAVE Expect near-record highs to continue

By SCOTT BAUGHMANLedger Staff Writerscottb@gaffneyledger.com

After a week or so of above-average temperatures and heat indexes that are edging above 100 degrees, Gaffney residents are certainly aware that summer is here. And they’re, well — feeling the heat.

“We are certainly above normal by about 3 to 5 degrees,” said Scott Krentz, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office at the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport. “We haven’t actually broken any records yet, but it is hot. This coming weekend we expect the temperature to increase some more and reach into the mid-90s at least.”

But the temperature alone isn’t causing your shirt to stick to you in five seconds flat as you walk out the door. It is, of course, the humidity.

“What people are noticing is that heat index,” Krentz explained. “It’s a combination of heat and humidity that, for about two to three hours every afternoon, makes it seem like it is 100 degrees or even hotter outside.

The heat index is sort of like a summer version of the wind chill factor in winter.”

What are the root causes of all this humidity? Some of them have been named and are being tracked on hurricane maps all over the Carolinas.

“Those tropical systems do send humidity our way,” Krentz said. “But it isn’t just about those. This summer especially we’ve had a real flow out of the Gulf of Mexico. Sometimes we’re protected from it by that high pressure

around Bermuda, but not this year.”

The solution might seem obvious — turn on the air

conditioner. Of course, that isn’t always an

option, and when it is, it can become

quite expensive.

“We know that customers’ electric

bills tend to be lower in

months where no air conditioning

or heating is needed to maintain a home’s comfort level,” said Tal Owen, general manager of Duke Power billing and payments. “On average, a home’s cooling system accounts for approximately half of a customer’s total electricity usage. With temperatures expected to be above normal in the Carolinas this summer, customers can expect to see their monthly bill increase approximately $15 - $40.”

If you’re trying to keep track of your power usage, Duke Power offers an innovative way to estimate your needs. Customers with billing questions are encouraged to visit www.dukepower.com to view their electric account. Accessing an account through the Web site requires only an account number and Zip code. Once logged onto their account, customers can view a number of items, including a billing history for the past 13 months and comparative weather information for the same billing period last year. This information can be useful in determining how extreme temperature fluctuations can impact electricity usage.

The site also offers tips on saving energy and information on programs to assist the needy in paying their utility bills.