Buffalo, NY (WBEN) National Grid says the utilty is ready to handle the increase in demand for power usage.

Steve Brady says demand is expected to rise. "It's a regional thing, because certain areas will be cooler with the winds coming off the lake," says Brady.

He says peak usage won't usually happen unless there are three to five consecutive days of hot weather. "Our network has been holding up well," explains Brady. "We've invested heavily in it. That's not to say something couldn't happen down the road, but a one or two day heat wave, we're not anticipating any real problems at this point."

Brady says hold off on using dishwashers and clothes washers and dryers until later in the day when the temperature cools to allow your air conditioner to work more efficiently. "The air conditioning is not fighting other appliances as much later in the day," says Brady.