With daytime temperatures well into the 90s, National Grid electricity customers in New York set a record for demand on Wednesday, July 17.

The distributor of electric power said usage soared to 6,911 megawatts, just beating the previous peak of 6,909 megawatts set on July 21, 2011.

Due to continued high demand caused by hot weather today, National Grid has reissued the call it made yesterday for customers in its upstate New York region to reduce all unnecessary electricity usage during the day.

The request is being made to reduce demand and strain on utility equipment.

Ken Daly, National Grid president for New York, said the company has increased reliability in recent years with new equipment, but that “we continue to encourage customers to be prudent with their energy use and urge all customers, especially seniors, to safeguard their health as they try to stay cool.”

In anticipation of summer weather patterns and the likely upswings in electricity demand, National Grid undertook readiness activities to prepare both its network and its workforce for high demand during this period, the statement from the company said.