COLUMBIANA, Ohio - There's some scorching weather coming over the next few days and the heat is prompting the City of Columbiana to call on electric customers to reduce energy consumption.

Tuesday and Wednesday have highs of over 90 degrees with mostly sunny conditions.

Columbiana residents are being asked to voluntarily lower electricity usage between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The call for energy conservation is being made in an effort to keep electric rates as low as possible.

“There’s plenty of power available and our grid is in good shape, but if we can conserve during these peak hours, the City can save on transmission and capacity costs next year. Lowering the peak demand will help control electricity rates," Lance Willard, Columbiana's city manager said.

There are a number of simple ways to conserve power, such as shutting off lights, unplugging small appliances, waiting to do laundry or raising the thermostat a few degrees.

“As a municipal electric system, owned by its citizens and customers, it is contingent upon those same citizens and customers to keep the electric rates for themselves and all other customers of City of Columbiana as low as possible. Our citizens and customers have the opportunity to make a difference in their system and their rates by conserving energy during these periods," Willard said.