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SALT LAKE CITY — The heat is on, and it's here to stay — which means Utahns are looking for ways to keep cool. But the attempts to beat the heat could cause power problems.
While many people spend theses hot days cooling off in the shade or water, when they go home they're cranking up the air conditioning and using water more than any other time of year.
Heat's effect on your utilities
Wade Jones a portion of his day Monday walking his beagle at Liberty Park. It's an activity they often do together, but this week he may have to get an earlier start in order to beat the heat.
"It's pretty tough walking the dog (later in the day)," Jones said. "I try to get out earlier. I'm not a fan of this hot weather."
Jones admits he's using more water and electricity right now, and he says he feels a little bad about it. The truth is, all of us are in the same boat when it comes to electricity use, and water use is up this month too.
We're now living on borrowed water. The water we use now is water that's now in storage and that we can't use in the future.
–Stephanie Duer, SLC water conservation program
According to records from Salt Lake City, water use increased earlier this year and went higher in June because of the hotter weather. But the records also show overall use is down compared to what it was in 2000.
That year, peak water usage was about 220 million gallons in one day. Peak water use this year was 193 million gallons; average use Sunday was about 163 million gallons.
In the long run, though, water managers are urging conservation.
"We're now living on borrowed water," said Stephanie Duer, Salt Lake City's water conservation program coordinator. "The water we use now is water that's now in storage and that we can't use in the future."
Electricity use keeps growing, but it's especially high this year. Rocky Mountain Power customers used more power this June than any June in recent history, and July is already on track to be a record month too.
"The concern is if people are using so much electricity that it creates strain on the grid," said Rocky Mountain Power spokesman Jeff Hymas. "And also with those higher temperatures overnight our equipment isn't allowed to cool off as much."
The bottom line is that utilities are doing their best to adapt to demand, but people should keep in mind there are limits when the weather is extreme.
Ice skating in the summer
Of course there are other ways too cool off without turning up the air conditioner. At the Weber County Ice Sheet in Ogden, some people spent the day ice skating.
"It's really cool in here. I think that they keep this rink really, really good. The ice is really smooth," said ice skater Joan Heninger.
The ice rink stays open during the summer, mainly for skating classes and hockey, but employees keep the open skate going in the afternoons. Out on the ice, it's a good 40 to 60 degrees.
"I'm in a coat all summer," ice skating instructor Kelsey Ward said. "It's crazy!"
#heat_poll
David Anderson is the facilities manager. He's been here since before the beginning, in 1994, and he's changed hundreds of blades.
"I'm here. I've been freezing for 18 years," he said.
Anderson also has the task of making sure that Olympic- size ice rink stays frozen. "Some days I do go outside just to get warm," he said.
Utility expenses go up about 20 percent in the summer — the link's least busy time of year.
"They complain that I keep it too cold, (but) that's by design," Anderson chuckled.
"There's no off-season for ice skating," Ward said "We're always here."
She said during heat waves like this the one Utah is now experiencing, her students learn to appreciate the chill. "It's always nice to get in a cold rink after being outside and it's so hot," she said.
Several other skaters said they just wanted some summer fun, without the triple digits.
High temperatures good for business
The extreme temperatures have also provided good business for a summer staple: snow cone shops.
The heat has been good to the Hokulia Shave Ice Shack in Provo, owners Clint and Stefani Severson said Monday.
"We serve 200 to 300 shave ice per day on a normal day," Clint Severson said.
"On warm days we get upwards to about 400, if not pushing even 500," Stefanie Severson added.
Their shack has been open for four years. Thanks to the heat — and some and some crazy flavors like wedding cake, chocolate, red velvet and dill pickle &38212; the Seversons are getting ready to franchise around the state.
But even the heat gets to them and their 13 employees. "The heat's killing me down there," Stefanie Severson said.
The Seversons just installed a second air conditioner at the shack after the first one couldn't keep up starting on the Fourth of July.
Heat history
On average, Salt Lake has six 100-degree or higher days each year. As of Monday, the capitol city had already hit that mark six times, according to KSL meteorologist Kevin Eubank. That number will certainly rise this week, but it's still too early to tell if the city will match 1994, when Salt Lake City had a record 21 days at or above the century mark.
Contributing: Jennifer Stagg, Mike Anderson, Richard Piatt, Carole Mikita, Randall Jeppesen and Julian Reyes
