INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Power & Light Co. said customers set a company record for electricity usage Monday, a day when afternoon temperatures in the city climbed into the 90s.

HEAT SAFETY TIPS Stay indoors as much as possible. Wear lightweight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothing. Drink plenty of water regularly and often. Eat small meals, and eat more often. Avoid caffeinated beverages, carbonated drinks and alcohol.

Demand was at 3,118 megawatt hours at 3 and 4 p.m. Monday, breaking the previous record of 3,003 megawatt hours, set on July 22, 2002.

Monday's high temperature in Indianapolis was 95 degrees. At 5 p.m., the heat index, which accounts for humidity, was about 102 degrees.

IPS said its power-generating system was performing well. Still, the company said it urges its customers to take the following steps to conserve energy:

Turn thermostats to a higher temperature

Turn off unnecessary lights

Keep curtains closed during the day on the sunny side of the home

Reduce the number of times people go in and out of the home

Make sure cooling vents are open and unobstructed

Avoid using unnecessary appliances

Tuesday's high temperature in Indianapolis is expected to be about 92 degrees. Thunderstorms are possible.

Cooler air is expected to arrive Wednesday. High temperatures in central Indiana on that day should be around 80 degrees, RTV6 Chief Meteorologist Kevin Gregory said.

Cinergy: Moving Thermostat Can Bring Significant Savings

The Cinergy energy company said people can save a decent amount of money by moving their air-conditioner thermostats from the low 70s to a few degrees higher.

Moving the thermostat from 73 degrees to 76 degrees, for example, could result in electricity bill savings of 30 percent.

For each degree cooled below 78, electricity bills can rise by as much as 10 percent, Cinergy said.

Red Cross Operates Respite Center

Monday's heat prompted the Red Cross in Indianapolis to open an air-conditioned respite center.

The center, located at a Red Cross building at 441 E. 10th St., allowed people who needed a break from the heat to sit, watch TV, have something to drink and relax. It was scheduled to be open until 8 p.m. Monday and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.