Las Vegans crank up air

Monday, July 8, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Nevada Power Co. customers have shattered the peak record for electricity use two days in a row.

At the rate Southern Nevada is using power, peak records may fall by the hour as the summer heat intensifies.

The new system peak of 3,149 megawatts was recorded at 5 p.m. Tuesday, said Tom Henley, spokesman for Nevada Power.

At 5 p.m. Monday, Nevada Power had set its highest use to date at 3,072 megawatts.

Last summer, the record for electricity use was broken at 5 p.m. July 28 at 3,066 megawatts, Henley said.

Before that, the record use of 2,851 megawatts was set on Aug. 16, 1994, and 2,681 megawatts on Aug. 2, 1993.

"Growth is definitely behind the increases each year," Henley said. The utility's customer base is growing at an average of 6 1/2 percent a year.

As hotter days boost air-conditioning use, customers will use more power and have to pay more, although Nevada Power's rates are in the lower third for the nation, Henley said.

Almost 50 percent of the peak use comes from demands by residents rather than large casinos.

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