— — Tuesday’s scorching temperatures helped set an electricity record for upstate New York.

National Grid reported that from 2 to 3 p.m. demand for electricity soared to 6,804 megawatts, surpassing upstate’s all-time high of 6,692 megawatts on Aug. 2, 2006.

The utility expects even with record usage it will be able to meet electricity demands as temperatures are forecast to remain in the low- to mid-90s across much of the region through Thursday.

The utility prepared for high-demand periods by upgrading, inspecting and testing equipment in its network and training its workforce with emergency response drills.

However, if a need arises to reduce power, National Grid will issue a request through radio and television outlets for voluntary reductions in electricity use.

Tuesday’s high temperature recorded at the National Weather Service office at the Buffalo Airport was 89 degrees, reached at 3:22 p.m.

With today expected to be warmer than Tuesday, the New York state departments of Health and Environmental Conservation have issued an ozone advisory for the entire state from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. today. Ground level ozone is a major component of smog.

People, especially young children, those who exercise outdoors, those involved in vigorous outdoor work and those who have respiratory diseases should consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity when ozone levels are the highest.

Individuals experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain or coughing should consult a doctor.

Ozone levels generally decrease at night and can be minimized during daylight hours by reducing the use of automobiles and taking public transportation instead. Automobile emissions account for about 60 percent of pollution in major cities.

National Grid, the DEC and DOH also offer the following tips to conserve energy and reduce pollution:

• Close blinds, shades or drapes to block the sunlight during the hottest part of the day, especially on south- and west-facing windows.

• Cool things down by reducing the amount of heat generated in your home. Turn off lights when they are not needed and limit use of household appliances. If necessary, run appliances at night.

• Use fans to circulate air. If air conditioning is necessary, set thermostats at 78 degrees.

• Clean or replace clogged air conditioner filters.

• Given the heat, use the outside air option on your air conditioner sparingly since it is more economical to cool the air indoors than to cool down the hot outside air to comfortable room temperatures.

• Set the water heater’s thermostat to 120 degrees or less for normal use and lower the setting when away from home for extended periods. For every 10 degrees decrease in heater temperature, energy use may be cut by 3 to 5 percent. Reduced temperatures will also decrease the risk of scalding.

• Set refrigerators and freezers at more efficient temperatures.

• Install energy efficient lighting and appliances with the Energy Star label.

Temperatures have been slow to cool off. At 8 p.m. Tuesday the National Weather Service reported temperatures across upstate ranging from 80 degrees in Wellsville to 87 in Elmira and Glens Falls.

In the lower Hudson Valley, Poughkeepsie and Newburgh were in the mid-90s at 8 p.m. Closer to home the temperatures in Buffalo and Niagara Falls were 83 and 85, respectively.