Hot Times in the City – A Look at Summer Heat in New York City from a Utility Company Perspective

The Consolidated Edison Company of New York has a long standing methodology for calculating the effect air temperature and humidity has on electric demand within New York City. The combination of dry and wet bulb temperature is used to calculate a weather factor we call temperature variable. Based on the daily temperature variable the amount of electricity demand is predicted each day throughout the year.

Electricity usage is a greater focus during the summer months when demand for cooling causes electricity use to rise quickly on the hottest days and must be prepared for and managed appropriately. This talk will explain the methodology behind temperature variable and how it relates to the widely used meteorological variable heat index.

Given the potential impact climate change may have on future temperatures and humidity, we will also review some preliminary research on summer heat in New York City based on the typical meteorological observations of temperature, humidity, and heat index factors. We intend to investigate the resulting trends in heat wave frequency, duration, average and peak temperatures and humidity within New York City. This will be compared to the trends observed in our own temperature variable to see if there are any correlations.