With temperatures and humidity high, Cinergy customers sucked up power at a record pace Monday.

        Demand for electricity hit a peak of 10,984 megawatts, breaking the old record of 10,873 set on July 22, 1999, said Steve Brash, a spokesman for Cinergy. Eighteen people in Greater Cincinnati died during the 1999 heat wave.

        Monday's high was 89, and humidity hit as high as 97 percent.

        Not everyone could enjoy their air conditioning Monday and Tuesday. About 2,000 customers reported power failures Monday night, mainly from the Sharonville and Delhi Township areas, but fewer than 100 were still without electricity by Tuesday morning.

HOW HOT?

The top five peak days for power consumption at Cinergy Corp.:    MEGAWATTS ... DATE    10,984 ... July 23, 2001    10,873 ... July 22, 1999    10,710 ... July 21, 1993    10,659 ... Aug. 18, 2000    10,109 ... July 28, 1997

        Cool centers in Cincinnati recreation centers were open, and the Tristate remained under a heat alert Tuesday for the second straight day.

        Dr. Malcolm Adcock, Cincinnati health commissioner, said the heat alert could be lifted today if temperatures and humidity drop a bit. The smog alert that had been in effect since Saturday was canceled as of today, according to Hamilton County's Department of Environmental Services.

        Today's forecast is for a high of 88 with a chance of late thunderstorms, according to AccuWeather.

        It should cool off by Thursday, with a high of 80 and a chance of showers. Temperatures are expected to climb back into the mid-80s through the weekend.

        The heat has caused a run on fans and air conditioners at the FreeStore/FoodBank. Vicki Aug Williams at the FreeStore said they have given away hundreds of fans this summer, 200 last week alone.

        The FreeStore/FoodBank also has handed out more than 30 air conditioners in the past month.

        Mr. Brash said so far this summer has been fairly typical, and Cinergy is not worried about blackouts.

        “Supply is looking quite good,” said Mr. Brash. “There is power available. We have not had to seek customer conservation. What we're experiencing is pretty much normal in this type of circumstance.”

        Pat Arnold, who lives in Loveland, has been logging the number of times she's had power failures at her home — 12 times Sunday, eight times Monday.

        “You can't use the computer; it crashes,” said Ms. Arnold. “I walk around now with one of those little flashlights in my pocket. You make sure the garage door is open. Dealing with power interruptions has become a mini-part-time job.”

        Ms. Arnold said, however, that she doesn't know if heat is entirely to blame; she has had trouble with electricity since December, although not as bad as in recent days.

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