THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, July 18, 1995                 TAG: 9507180273
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   35 lines

STAYING COOL IN THE SUMMER OFTEN HAS ITS PRICE

It's a good bet you'll cringe at your July power bill if you're staying cool during this heat wave.

One reason: You can pay more in the summer than in the winter for electricity. That extra charge can keep demand down and save energy, a Virginia Power spokesman in Richmond said Monday.

But on Saturday, when the mercury hit a record of 101 degrees in Norfolk, Virginia Power customers across two-thirds of Virginia were energy-hungry. Demand peaked at a record 13,512 megawatts between 5 and 6 p.m.

The previous high was set July 29, 1993, when the power company's output spiked to 13,366 megawatts between 4 and 5 p.m.

The average year-round demand by Virginia Power residential customers is about 1,000 kilowatt hours a month. But because of the summer-winter differential, the charge for that 1,000 kilowatt hours is about $91 in the summer and $85 in the winter.

A kilowatt-hour is enough electricity to burn 10 bulbs, each 100 watts, for one hour. A megawatt is enough electricity to supply the needs of 250 homes.

It's still too early to estimate how much power Virginia Power customers will demand during July. And, the company spokesman said, people who have upgraded to more energy-efficient cooling systems might be surprised. They could be using less power than when the last heat wave hit.

KEYWORDS: WEATHER by CNB