Major grocery chain dimming lights to help conserve energy during extreme heat

CINCINNATI - The Kroger Co. announced Friday that it will be dimming lights in its stores to help conserve energy during the extreme heat wave.

Signs in all 109 Tri-State area stores have let customers know that lighting will be dimmed by a third to help cope with the extreme heat and it's toll on power supplies.

"The high temperatures have certainly taken a toll on our electric supply and caused intermittent outages in many neighborhoods this week," said Sukanya Madlinger, president of Kroger's Cincinnati/Dayton division. "This adjustment is something we can do now to help conserve energy and reduce the strain on the system."

Kroger typically reduces lighting in stores from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m year-round but has voluntarily extended that reduction to 24 hours a day for the next few days until temperatures are closer to their normal range.

Kroger said it will monitor the situation with power companies and will extend the cutback if necessary.

"This will be a minimal change for our shoppers, " Madlinger said. "There is still plenty of lighting for our customers to shop their store. This just reduces the energy burden on the system as we wait for a break in the temperature."